



\ "^^0* <.'< 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 




AMANDA AKIN 

(April, 1863) 



The Lady Nurse 
of Ward E 



BY 
AMANDA AKIN STEARNS 



p^jr 



NEW YORK 

THE BAKER & TAYLOR COMPANY 

1909 



Copyright, 1909, by Amanda Akin Stearns 



Published, September, 1909 



248389 



\Lc>- 



THE TROW PRESS, NEW YORK 



THE VOLUNTEER NURSES 

WHO GAVE THEIR SERVICES DURING 

THE CIVIL WAR TO THE 

ARMORY SQUARE HOSPITAL 

AT WASHINGTON, D. C. 



PREFACE 

Perhaps it is not known to many 
that the Armory Square Hospital 
was constructed through the desire 
of President Lincoln to have one as 
complete and comfortable as could 
be devised, near the steamboat land- 
ing. In 1862 he called D. Willard 
Bliss, Surgeon, United States Volun- 
teers, from a Michigan regiment, to 
organize a system of general hos- 
pitals in and about Washington. Qne 
result of his coming was the speedy 
erection of this one, on Govern- 
ment land, about the Armory, oppo- 
site the Smithsonian grounds. All 
of Dr. Bliss's far-seeing suggestions 
and ingenious, though simple, ar- 
rangements to aid in caring for the 
sick and wounded were discussed 
weekly with the President. So later 
the hospital came to be considered 
[7] 



Preface 

the most complete and best conducted 
institution of its kind during the Civil 
War. By the spring of 1863 Dr, Bliss 
had gladly accepted the offered ser- 
vices of a sufficient number of ladies 
to serve as nurses, one for each of the 
ten wards, when gradually the profes- 
sional or paid ones had left. A special 
diet kitchen was built with funds con- 
tributed by their Boston friends, and 
early in 1864, at President Lincoln's 
suggestion and with his practical as- 
sistance, flower beds were arranged 
between each of the long barracks, 
which proved indeed grateful to tired 
eyes and weary hearts. He came 
often to visit the hospital and shake 
hands with the soldiers, always with 
a kind word, when his eyes had a sad, 
far-away look, and he often paused 
before those suffering most intensely 
to utter a warm " God bless you." 

A. A. S. 

Akinside, Quaker Hill, N. Y 
September, 1909. 



[8] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 



Armory Square Hospital, 

Washington, D. C, 

April 28, 1863. 

My Dear Sisters : You are no doubt 
anxiously looking for a " sign of life '^ 
from me, but I can tell you initiation 
into hospital life of such a novice is 
not ligbtly to be spoken of, and until 
my ideas ceased floundering and I 
could recognize my old self again, I 
could not trust myself with a pen. 
The feeling of a " cat in a strange gar- 
ret " has now quite left me. With the 
first effort the work took hold of me 
so firmly that my own identity seemed 
for a time lost. It is inexplicable why 
I should have come here, and how eas- 
ily I have fitted in the place. 

Arriving at Washington 6 p.m. with 
my uncle, who could not persuade me 
to wait until morning, we entered the 
hospital at the general oflfice (the only 
opening from the street). I boldly 

[11] 



The Lady, Nurse of Ward E 

asked the surgeon in charge at the 
desk for Dr. Bliss. " He has gone 
home," was the curt reply. After tell- 
ing him who I was, as if some one 
ought to be expecting me, I asked for 
Miss Piatt, the only one I knew. He 
gave me a quizzical look through his 
spectacles, and for reply said to an or- 
derly nodding in a corner, " go and find 
Miss Piatt." Saying to my disgusted 
relative, " It is all right ; I understand. 
Good night," I followed my guide, with 
a courage bom of necessity, through 
loosely boarded passageways, coming 
out at the back of the long white- 
washed wards, where the convales- 
cents were sitting outside (to me then 
a grim-looking lot), until we came to 
Ward C, at the entrance of which we 

met Miss P , with hands full of 

some patient's supper, which on see- 
ing me she gracefully handed to an 
attendant, and welcomed me to her 
room, an enclosure boarded off from 
the convalescents' " grub " room, 
when I was thankful to feel that I 
had arrived. 

[12] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

As the supper hour had passed I 
seemed to be an " elephant " on every- 
one's hands, until a young woman 
nurse, who shared the room — Miss 
Hill, of Belmont, Mass. — came in, and 
taking in the situation began "moth- 
ering " me, and never ceased until, in 
spite of "red-tape" regulations, she 
brought me some supper, and had 
another iron bedstead, etc., put in that 
room. I shall never cease to call her 
"Mother" Hill. Being slightly re- 
freshed I assented to Miss P 's in- 
vitation to go in her ward, when she 
went to make her last rounds and give 
out the night medicines. I meekly 
followed through the long ward, un- 
able to return the gaze of the occu- 
pants of twenty-six beds, to the table 
in the center, and with a sinking heart 
watched her raise the head of a poor 
fellow in the last stages of typhoid, 
to give him a soothing draught. 
Could I ever do that! For once my 
courage failed. On returning, my 
friend informed me the man could live 
only a few hours, and as they were 
[13] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

carried out soon after death I must 
not be disturbed if I heard them, and 
saw the lights th-e other side of our 
partition. That was sufficient to 
keep my already overstrained nerves 
tense until they passed, and I saw 
the lights winding to the House of 
Death. After that, exhausted, I slept 
through my first night in a hos- 
pital. 

With the morning came new life. 
Surgeon-General Bliss was early in 
his office. I reported to him, and was 
soon installed as nurse in Ward E. 
Our ward master, " Jobes,'' a Penn- 
sylvania boatman, with wife and chil- 
dren at home, beamed a welcome at 
me on every occasion, and when the 
surgeon in charge of the ward (my 
quizzical friend of the evening previ- 
ous) came to visit his patients and did 
not notice the newcomer, Jobes took 
the first opportunity to say, " This is 
the lady who is to have charge of the 
ward," the only reply we received, ac- 
companied with a little nod, was 
" Humph ! " evidently not approving 




D. W. BLISS 

Surgeon U. S. Volunteers 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

of a lady's presence in a hospital. As 
you can imagine, that touched my met- 
tle, and was a good tonic, so I went to 
work. Having ascertained that he 
was from " way-off '' Erie, Pa., I said 
to myself, " He will find out what a de- 
termined young woman from New 
York can do." As there had been no 
woman in the ward for a week the 
big-hearted " Jobes's '' unsystematic 
ways were evident on all sides. For 
the first two days it rained incessant- 
ly, and I looked at Miss Piatt passing 
to and fro from Ward C with a smil- 
ing face, humming to herself, in as- 
tonishment unable to see aught but 
satisfaction in trying to relieve the 
suffering and discharge my duties 
properly; but since I have become 
a part of the system, it is another 
thing. 

It is like the solar system: every 
ward revolves on its own axis, with 
its own surgeon, nurse (feminine), 
No. 6, or orderly for both, ward mas- 
ter, cadet surgeon to dress wounds, 
three attendants and two night watch- 
[15] 



The Lady, Nurse of Ward E 

ers — all together revolving around 
Dr. Bliss, the surgeon in charge. The 
" reveille " sounds at 6 a.m., and we 
have just time to dress and arrange 
our rooms before we go to our wards 
to dispense the medicines, which is a 
responsible part of our duties. Then 
come the breakfast for the men, to 
the dining room attached to each 
ward, and the special diet for those 
who cannot leave their beds, which the 
nurse, with the assistance of her or- 
derly, gives out according to the 
doctor's prescription. Every bed is 
numbered, and the men are so desig- 
nated. After our own breakfast, we 
meet the surgeon in our ward, who 
makes his prescription on a card 
hanging by each man's bed. His or- 
derly brings the cards to our table for 
us to make the orders for medicine 
and send to the dispensary, or if for 
special diet to send them to that kitch- 
en. The medicine chest is placed 
upon a table in the center of the ward, 
which also contains the stimulants, 
our especial charge, of which we keep 
[16] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

the key ; alongside it are our own table 
and chair, that being our special post. 

Besides our regular morning duties 
there is the constant supervision and 
care of so many worn and suffering, 
and yet so grateful patients; letters 
to be written, etc. One poor boy in 
our ward, without a relative in the 
world, has made many friends here. 
He has daily visitors and presents 
from outside, and no one thinks he 
has too much. He has been confined 
to his bed for eight months with a 
wound from which at times he suf- 
fers intensely, with very little hope of 
any improvement. He never com- 
plains, but is ready with a merry 
laugh at the doctor's jokes. 

We again dispense the medicines, 
etc., before 12 m., the hour for the 
men's dinner. As the hospital now 
is not crowded, the engagements of 
late having been in the South, we 
get a few hours for rest or a 
walk before 5 p.m., when we resume 
our duties at the medicine chest, etc. 
We spend the evenings trying to en- 
[17] 



The Lady *Nurse of Ward E 

tertain our men (Mother Hill calls 
them boys). 

At a quarter to nine, when the night 
watchers come, we give our last direc- 
tions and retire. " Jobes " says, 
" The men have got quite a liking 
for me already," which may sound 
strange to you, and would be better 
understood if you saw the respect so 
universally paid to us. We pass up 
and down among these rough men 
without fear of the slightest word of 
disrespect. They feel their depend- 
ence upon us for comfort and enter- 
tainment, and the difference in the 
wards where there is no "lady" 
shows how much can be done for them. 
In one ward (C) there is a melodeon 
a kind friend sent to Miss Piatt, and 
the convalescents are very happy to 
have the ladies come and sing with 
them. 

Our cadet surgeon told me to-day 
that he was musical and could play on 
three instruments by ear, and we have 
one " stuttering " man who, sitting up 
in bed, his wounded limb having kept 
[18] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

him there two months, sings by the 
hour and makes jokes for all about 
him. I do not write of the sad 
things which occur daily and hourly 
before me, and to which it seemed at 
first I should never get professionally 
accustomed. Although there are so 
few in the hospital, there are deaths 
every day. A strong, able-bodied 
man who accidentally shot himself is 
in our ward, life and death struggling 
with him for the mastery. He is a 
German, and as he is a stranger to 
all, he scarcely speaks. I wrote a let- 
ter for him to his wife, for which he 
was very grateful. 

The hospital is pleasantly located 
opposite the Smithsonian Institution 
grounds, now beautifully green ; with 
the Capitol on the other side, though 
at a little distance, its elevation 
brings the fine building in full view. 
You will understand we are in bar- 
racks, the walls of rough boards, pa- 
pered inside, but still comfortable. 
There are men to sweep, to attend to 
the fires, etc. We have other volun- 
[19] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

teer nurses, among them may be men- 
tioned Miss Lowell, of Boston; Miss 
Low, niece of Senator Hale, of 
New Hampshire; Professor Felton's 
daughter, of Cambridge, and Miss 
Griggs and Miss Marsh from Massa- 
chusetts. We meet at table in the 
rough room Dr. Bliss has had ar- 
ranged so that we could be apart from 
the general dining room ; but we have 
not the leisure to be very sociable. 
There has been a little " earthquake " 
here since my arrival, which revealed 
to the volunteer nurses that we were 
under army regulations. Dr. Bliss 
was suddenly arrested and taken to 
the Capitol jail, and an army surgeon 
put in charge of the hospital pro 
temps. It so happened that the next 
day was pay day for all the soldiers 
and employees of the hospital. Imag- 
ine our virtuous disgust and indigna- 
tion on being called to the general 
office to receive a month's pay for our 
service! We had to take it, being a 
small elephant on the officer's hands, 
to which later we became for the day 
[20] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

reconciled, and went to market to se- 
lect some treat for our boys. The 
upheaval was brought about by a 
dishonest steward, who had been dis- 
charged by Dr. Bliss, and who report- 
ed some pecuniary embarrassments 
of which he had knowledge, etc., to 
Secretary Stanton, and got an order 
for Dr. Bliss's arrest. You may imag- 
ine the consternation, a silent uproar, 
though outwardly all was calm. Sen- 
ators Hale and Chandler were tele- 
graphed for. Miss Piatt and Mrs. In- 
gersoll (widow of the Attorney Gen- 
eral of Maine) went to Surgeon Gen- 
eral Hammond, to the provost mar- 
shal, and lastly to Charles Sumner, 
and to Secretary Stanton himself. So 
Dr. Bliss is liberated on parole, and 
demands an investigation. Of course, 
there was great rejoicing when he re- 
turned to the hospital, and probably 
there will never be a time to call it up 
again. 

Though writing hurriedly, I hope I 
have given you a clear impression of 
the life to which I have devoted my- 
[21] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

self for the present, as I could not re- 
main at home inactive when there was 
so mnch need of service. 

Always assured of your affection- 
ate interest and sympathy, I am, 
Lovingly, 

Your Sisteb. 



Armory Square Hospital, 

Washington, D. C, 

May 14, 1863. 
My Dear Sister Gulie : I must first 
tell you that my trunk arrived safely 
yesterday, and you may believe the 
pleasure it gave me was not alone 
from its contents, but the sisterly in- 
terest and care shown in everything. 
Tell Annie the hat is a beauty, but a 
little too fine to go through the gen- 
eral office. However, it is needed for 
church, and other times, and the old 
one will serve when we go out in haste 
after supper for a little walk. We 
can go to church only on Sunday even- 
ings as the mornings are occupied by 
the weekly tour of " inspection," when 
Dr. Bliss with his staff of ward sur- 
[22] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

geons, head clerks, etc., pass in pro- 
cession through the wards, every man 
by his bed, and we at our posts. You 
will find this letter to be a hurried and 
disconnected one. 

Since the wounded from the battle 
of Chancellorsville have arrived, our 
life has become very exciting and ab- 
sorbing. I write anywheres, in ward 
or room, for the moment, with mind 
on many other things. If I had writ- 
ten last Saturday or Sunday I would 
scarcely have been able to speak of 
anything but our poor wounded sol- 
diers. We looked for them the first of 
the week, and when the heavy ambu- 
lances went past in procession, taking 
those least wounded to more remote 
hospitals, I, at least, became pos- 
sessed of an undefined dread. On 
Thursday morning at daybreak they 
arrived, about one hundred and fifty, 
and on Friday one hundred more. 
The sound of the general ward mas- 
ter's bugle took us out of our beds. I 
shall never forget the scene as we 
looked from the window into the dark- 
[23] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

ness, only relieved by the lanterns in 
the hands of those waiting to receive 
them, as the ambulances were driven 
slowly up one by one, and their bur- 
den carried in either on a stretcher 
or between two men, if only the lower 
limbs were injured. My friend had 
already " wrestled " herself into her 
clothes, and I did not tarry. The 
wounded had been put in haste on the 
floor, on chairs, anywhere, but all ner- 
vousness was gone when I saw their 
brave hearts reflected in the faces of 
those able to sit up. One man at once 
arrested my attention ; he was sitting 
by the stove, with one foot covered 
with bloody cloths, drawn over his 
knee, his clothes torn and soiled, tell- 
ing some listeners about the battle in 
exciting terms, with his bright black 
eyes glistening, and forgetting the 
loss of two or three toes! Even the 
severely wounded men who could 
speak were cheerfully waiting their 
turn to be bathed and put in bed, 
thankful to get to such a comfortable 
place. Poor fellows! many of them 
[24] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

had been shelled out of three hospitals 
after they were wounded, and as one 
said to me, " were obliged to ' ske- 
daddle,' even if they had but one leg." 
One poor fellow brought in our ward 
was so blackened and burned by a 
powder explosion that some one re- 
marked, ^' There is not much use 
bringing him in," but on dressing his 
burned face we found his eyes had 
been protected (probably by his 
hands, which were fearfully burned), 
and that he was determined to live. 
When we consulted as to whether he 
could take food, he very quickly an- 
swered beneath the plasters which 
covered his face, " that he could eat 
if we would put something in his 
mouth ; his jaws were stiff because he 
had had nothing to use them on, since 
he was wounded on Sunday." You 
may believe not many minutes passed 
before I had a cup of hot coffee and 
toast, pushing it into his mouth in the 
best way possible. His feeding was 
my special care for some days ; he al- 
ways knew my voice, and when I did 
[25] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

not come lie would tell the attendant 
" he wanted his mother to feed him." 
Since the bandage has been occasion- 
ally lifted from his eyes, I think he 
feels disappointed in not finding me 
as motherly looking as he expected. 

Time will not permit to tell you 
more. Suffice it to say, they are a 
brave, noble set of fellows, and with 
scarcely an exception bear their great 
sufferings without a murmur. There 
has been but one death in our ward; 
there was no hope for him when he 
came. The ball had passed through 
the spine and paralyzed his lower 
limbs, so we could not regret when he 
was relieved from suffering. 

Perhaps I ought not to write you 
these sad details, but they have ab- 
sorbed my mind completely, and I 
know your thoughts and hearts are 
equally and deeply interested in this 
fearful war. It is most interesting 
to hear the men conversing and com- 
paring notes about the battle. One 
Zouave boy, about eighteen, says to a 
friend, who had hobbled in from an- 
[26] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

other ward, "Why, I thought you 
were dead. They said your head was 
blown off," and then both fell to talk- 
ing about it in an amazing manner. 
Their wounds had been dressed as 
well as could be expected, hurriedly 
in a field hospital, not neglected as the 
New York Herald reports. They say 
"Joe," as they call General Hooker, 
"is the man, and that he is a brave 
and good general." You probably re- 
ceive the war news nearly as soon as 
we do, and probably with more de- 
tails. " Stonewall " Jackson is dead. 
Hooker has been reinforced, and has 
recrossed the river. Our hospital is 
thronged with visitors after 1 p.m. 
Secretaries of relief societies are look- 
ing up the men belonging to their 
States. Mothers are looking for their 
sons; sisters for their brothers, etc., 
etc. It is a little world by itself, but 
the same God rules over all, and we 
are thankful. A gallant old gentle- 
man in Congress (brother of Owen 
Love joy, the noted Abolitionist) was 
introduced to us by Mrs. IngersoU. 
[27] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

He says, "We can take care of the 
soldiers, and he will take care of ns," 
so he comes quite often to accompany 
us in a walk after supper through the 
Capitol grounds. He writes verses, 
and is a friend of Mrs. Sen. Lane. To- 
morrow evening, for diversion, he is 
to take a party of us to another hos- 
pital, where they have theatrical en- 
tertainments. Miss Piatt's married 
sister is in town and will go with us. 
Dr. Jenkins, of Yonkers, came in to 
see me before leaving. You know he 
has been actively connected with the 
Sanitary Commission, and his wife 
was with you in those successful 
charades Mrs. Livermore arranged 
for the benefit of the soldiers. One 
day I was glad to meet the Eev. F. W. 
Ware, of Boston, whom I failed to see 
when I was invited to his house near 
the city by his wife's sister. Miss Rice. 
I like Miss Felton very much. She 
sent to my ward yesterday a half 
dozen games and puzzles for my men. 
Mr. John Ware had sent her a quan- 
tity, and she was glad to share them. 
[28] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

The New England ladies here are con- 
stantly receiving valuable boxes of 
good and useful things, which are dis- 
pensed liberally. Miss Hill has fur- 
nished Miss P and me with all the 

condensed milk, wine, etc., we need at 
present. Please tell Annie to send 
half worn shirts, neckties, etc., to put 
in my box. Our attendants think it 
a great thing to get a white shirt for 
Sunday, and you know, poor fellows, 
they soon leave them behind when 
transferred. Through Jobes, I re- 
ceived a compliment from our old sur- 
geon this morning. " He was glad 
they had changed matrons. I was 
worth a dozen of the one who pre- 
ceded me." It has made me feel quite 
proud as you may remember he re- 
ceived me with a nod and a " Humph." 
Please tell Mrs. Hamilton that the 
men in my ward favorably received 
me because I was thought to be a Mc- 
Clellan woman, and yesterday I was 
called to the ward master's room and 
presented with a plaster figure of the 
general, which I have had placed on a 
[29] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

bracket (made by one of the men), 
over the door, which called forth an 
expression of disapproval from my 
radical Boston friend. Sister Griggs, 
who said " McClellan is doing noth- 
ing but organizing an army." Pre- 
cious little I know what he is doing, 
but I told her if my sick or maimed 
soldier boys had been under his 
command, and wanted it there, it 
would remain. No politics in the 
army ! 

Many kind letters come for me 
often, which are very comforting. 
Mrs. Secretary Wells and a friend 
come often to our ward, and assist me 
in writing letters for the men; there 
is so much to be done after a battle. 
Many come offering to assist, but 
their lack of sense or offieiousness, 
and sometimes their mischief -making, 
oblige us to be very circumspect. 

The Smithsonian grounds opposite 
are such a treat to us. We can run 
there for a few moments, and the com- 
plete change renovates mind and body. 

The weather now is fine ; a few days 
[30] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

are very warm, so that the men lying 
in bed suffer much. 
With much love to all, 

Affectionately, 

Your Sister. 



Armory Square Hosiptal, 
Washington, D. C, 

June 13, 1863. 
My Dear Sister : It seems to me, as 
day after day passes with its unceas- 
ing round of duties, that the time for 
writing home will never come. If the 
hour or so of leisure on which we 
count in the afternoon is taken up by 
something unexpected, either of pleas- 
ure or care, whatever we have ap- 
pointed for it must be deferred. When 
we come to our rooms unusually 
weary. Sister Hill or I make a cup of 
tea (Sister Piatt makes the coffee), 
and we discuss hospital affairs over 
it, which for the last fortnight have 
been exceedingly interesting since our 
Dr. Bliss has been reinstated. This 
life is one of constant interest and ex- 
citement, like a journey through for- 
[31] 



The Lady. Nurse of Ward E 

eign lands. The scene constantly 
changes, the principal actors and con- 
veyance alone remaining the same, 
and the important feature of one day 
is obliterated by the one equally so 
of the next. I should regret very 
much that I was not keeping a journal 
if I did not know it would rob me of 
necessary rest. It is late now; there 
goes the " night watch," and officer of 
the day making their rounds, and old 
Mason says, " There's a light in 
there," but it is my surgeon. Dr. 
Stuart ; so there is no danger of my 
being reported. I was determined to 
make a commencement to-night on this 
sheet, which has been waiting for me 
a fortnight. I feel the want of time 
for letter writing or scribbling in my 
journal as much as any sacrifice I am 
making, and should dearly love to 
write hospital sketches. To-day be- 
ing Saturday, I had my medicine chest 
to arrange for Sunday's inspection, 
which detained me in my ward after 
dinner; then a letter to write for a 
poor wounded soldier (who will prob- 
[32] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

ably not live) to his mother. He was 
wounded in a cavalry skirmish and 
brought here from Culpepper night 
before last. Then followed a short but 
interesting conversation with him 
about his past and rather reckless life, 
and his hope for the next ; then a cool- 
ing drink for Jobes and some of the 
attendants, who had been scrubbing 
and scouring for Sunday ; a little con- 
versation with stuttering " Joe," who 
has been suffering from a swollen 
throat, having taken cold since he has 
laid away his crutches and gone out on 
a pass ; then a slight rebuke to Tommy, 
an old man attendant, who is a capital 
nurse, only he insists, occasionally, on 
giving medicines which the doctor has 
not prescribed. Now and then strays 
in " Scott," the former bugler, now 
in the dispensary, a right pleasant fel- 
low, who wishes to borrow a piece of 
music to practice on the bugle, and I 
must needs go and try it on the piano, 
which now occupies a conspicuous 
place in the center of our ward, the 
only one in the hospital. Scott is very 
[33] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

fond of music, so I have made his 
acquaintance since the piano came. 
Then the time arrived to give out 
medicine, and the afternoon was spent, 
leaving me only a few moments to 
change my dress for supper. On leav- 
ing my room the general ward 
master's call sounded, which an- 
nounced that more wounded had ar- 
rived, and everyone was on the alert 
in a moment. One hundred wounded 
came; they were the most severely 
wounded from the battle of Chancel- 
lorsville, and they have been lying six 
weeks at Potomac Creek and have now 
been sent here through fear of the 
rebels reaching there. 

The same routine must be followed 
before the poor man is put to bed : his 
card made out and hung at the head of 
his bed; his clothes, which are taken 
off, made into a parcel, labeled for the 
knapsack room; and an account en- 
tered in the ward master's book, which 
in Ward E is kept by the "lady 
nurse " — an agreement between Jobes 
and myself, he being not much of a 
[34] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

bookkeeper ; as he has always insisted 
upon taking charge of the night med- 
icines (mostly pills and castor oil), 
I readily assented to have him con- 
tinue in charge. It is not every nurse 
here that has a Jobes, who when 
Father Wilson at the cookhouse pro- 
tests that " there are too many special 
diets on Ward E's list, and he will 
have to report the nurse there," tells 
him " to go to the d — 1," and makes 
out the diet list himself, and " he can 
report him " ; Jobes must swear a lit- 
tle, though he has the kindest heart 
imaginable. 

Good night, I must go to rest. 

Sunday, June 14th, 2 p.m. — Hooker 
and his army are " skedaddling " as 
fast as possible — at least the sick and 
wounded are. One hundred more 
wounded arrived here this morning, 
about 4 A.M. Everyone had to fly, sur- 
geons and all. For a time all was con- 
fusion — reports, with the new ones in- 
cluded, to be made out. Everything 
paused with surprise until finally one 
[35] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

wheel set the rest in motion. As there 
was no diet requisition made out for 
the new arrivals, there was a " skir- 
mish " in getting something for them 
to eat. My head is filled with prescrip- 
tions and diet lists. These last ar- 
rivals were mostly from Aquia Creek, 
which has been deserted. It is sad in- 
deed to see so much suffering and sac- 
rifice of all that makes life dear, and 
nothing accomplished toward putting 
an end to the rebellion. 

It is a great advantage to have a 
room at the end of one's ward, and 
when Dr. Bliss returned I applied for 
it, as we were still three in one room. 
He consented, but a girl from the linen 
room had taken possession of it, and 
it required an order from Dr. Bliss, 
through the general ward master, to 
get her out again. Fearing I would 
get the " blues " from the lead-colored 
army blankets tacked on the floor, I 
walked out and bought some matting. 
Jobes assisted me in getting some fur- 
niture here and there from the Quar- 
termaster's stores, etc. (I have been 
[36] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

in the army long enough not to ques- 
tion), and now feel that I have a liome 
here. As every door must be opened 
Sunday morning for inspection, my 
self-respect rose, when Dr. Bliss, at 
the head of his train, paused a mo- 
ment at my table, on his return 
through our ward, to say approvingly, 
" You have made a great improvement 
there." 

Some friends of Miss Lowell in Bos- 
ton have given three hundred dollars 
toward building a separate house on 
the grounds for the "lady nurses" 
(as we are called), and Dr. Bliss saj^s 
it shall be done at once, trusting for 
more donations if necessary. 

Some friends came in, one evening, 
accompanied by a man with a fine 
tenor voice, to sing for us. I wish 
you could have seen how the soldiers 
enjoyed his medley songs. 

Sunday, 4 p.m. — I cannot write long 
without interruptions. We have short 
religious services in the wards on Sun- 
day afternoons. The chaplain, with 
[37] 



The Lady ISFurse of Ward E 

others from outside who wish to speak 
to the soldiers, pass from ward to 
ward; the melodeon goes with them, 
and Sister Piatt plays the hymns 
when there is no one to relieve her. 
I always expect to be in Ward E when 
they come, both for my own comfort 
and the example to others. The sol- 
diers join in the singing, and the most 
careless are glad to hear a prayer for 
their wives and children. I have been 
to church only twice, but comfort my- 
self in thinking if I do not hear much 
preaching, I am trying to practice 
what they preach. 

Sunday, 9 p.m. — Oh dear me, the cry 
is " Still they come ! " and we are 
overflowing; they come now without 
order, and are received with but little 
ceremony. Our forces are obliged to 
retreat and have already made bon- 
fires at Falmouth, and as soon as all 
the wounded can be removed will 
probably do the same at Aquia Creek. 
Those who have arrived say it was 
distressing to see the confusion and 
[38] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

the efforts of the wounded, to get to 
some means of transportation. It 
seemed to me this evening, as I sat at 
my table adding to the list of med- 
icines — writing down, name, regi- 
ment, list of clothing, etc., of the new 
arrivals, calmly looking at the poor 
maimed sufferers carried by, some 
without limbs, on a " stretcher " — 
that I had forgotten how to feel, and 
when I went to the open door and 
glanced upward to Night's glittering 
mantle, it seemed as if I were entirely 
separated from the world I had left 
behind. Certainly, " I am not myself 
at all." 

While I write, and it is very late, 
there is a constant rumbling of am- 
bulances, or loaded wagons passing, 
cars are whistling, bells ringing, 
trains coming and going. I suppose 
you will hear about the possibility of 
the rebels reaching Washington ; they 
were fearful of a raid at Alexandria 
last week, only six miles below us, and 
set up defenses. But I must not write 
longer. Good night. 
[39] 



The Lady^Nurse of Ward E 

Monday Evening. — It is surprising 
how soon the new arrivals become ac- 
customed to our order of things, and 
soldierlike, while suffering, are on the 
lookout for something to " drive dull 
care " and sharp pain away. Since I 
have rented a piano which stands in 
the center of the ward, you would be 
amused to see your sister at the piano, 
and our Dr. Stuart with his violin 
(we are now on the best of terms), a 
respectable crowd of soldier boys be- 
hind us, playing all kinds of jolly mel- 
odies, and later the plaintive ones, 
which we tell our wondering neigh- 
bors, prepares our patients for sleep 
better than their soothing medicines. 
Of course, when receiving newly 
wounded, or the suffering is too acute, 
and all are too occupied and weary, or 
a soul is trembling on the verge of 
eternity, it is forgotten and out of 
place. 

But I must go to rest; with one lov- 
ing thought of home which embraces 
you all. 

Affectionately, Your Sister. 
[40] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Armory Square Hospital, 
Washington, D. C, 

June 28, 1863. 
Dear Sister: Fearing you may get 
anxious when you read to-morrow^s 
papers I write a few words this morn- 
ing. We have been much amused with 
some of the headlines of the New York 
papers, but for the last few days it 
has looked gloomy here, and to-night 
we have some palpable proofs that the 
rebel heads are turning this way. Two 
men were brought into Ward E this 
afternoon, wounded this morning in 
a cavalry skirmish only six miles from 
" Chain Bridge." They say the 
" Rebs " shouted '' they intended to 
take breakfast in Washington to-mor- 
row." The soldiers say " they wish 
the Rebs ivould throw some shells 
into Washington to wake up the Cabi- 
net, and make them show more activ- 
ity and earnestness, or give it up en- 
tirely." It seems to me either Jeff 
Davis himself or the other " ould 
boy" has taken the reins of govern- 
ment in his hands. 
[41] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

As you can imagine there is much 
excitement here, not that they expect 
Washington to be taken, but the neces- 
sity of doing something. There is 
constant signaling from the Capitol, 
and we hear bugle calls and wagons 
leaving town, but this is only what is 
expected when our troops are moving. 
Our little hospital world goes on as 
usual. I have not yet told you of 
President Lincoln's visit to our ward 
a fortnight or more since. It was 
pathetic to see him pass from bed to 
bed and give each occupant the warm, 
honest grasp for which he is noted. I 
hear that he is especially interested 
in this hospital, and has suggested 
having flower beds made between the 
wards with plants from the Govern- 
ment gardens, which Dr. Bliss is hav- 
ing done. His homely face with such 
sad eyes and ungainly figure did not 
fill my youthful idea of a " President 
of the United States " ; but it was a 
grand thing for him to come and cheer 
our soldier boys with his presence. 
No doubt the fearful responsibility 
[42] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

of his office weighs heavily upon 
him. 

Two more volmiteer nurses have 
arrived, so the last paid ones will be 
relieved to-morrow. One is to be 
my roommate, Miss Southwick from 
Boston, daughter of P. E. South- 
wick, a leather merchant. She has 
been in a hospital at Alexandria for 
a year, so is quite an old soldier in the 
service. She has added a small cheap 
bureau to our room, and given me two 
drawers of it, so we fraternize nicely. 
One day last week I was favored by 
a visit from Lieutenant W. G. Dick- 
son, Headquarters, north of the Poto- 
mac, a friend of Miss Sherman, who 
had written him an introductory let- 
ter, and he had come to see if he could 
be of service to me. Yesterday one of 
his orderlies brought me an exquisite 
bouquet of rare flowers with his card. 

Yesterday we received a patient 
formerly from New York City, now one 
of General Heintzelman's clerks. He 
left a position in the American Ex- 
change Bank to join the army (George 
[43] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Sliephard). He is not very ill, and he 
has not put on hospital clothes; his 
bed is near my desk, so he often comes 
and helps himself to special diet, and 
we talk about New York because we 
can. 

Our good old Dr. Stuart was very ill 
last evening. He has most severe at- 
tacks of rush of blood to the head and 
almost loses his senses. He depends 
on Jobes to care for him. I ventured 
in to see him last evening as he called 
for some tea, and he was glad to have 
me assist in holding his head, while 
Jobes " cupped " the back of his neck. 

I received Mrs. Brewer's (wife of 
Eev. D. E. Brewer of Yonkers) parcel 
of flannel shirts, etc., remaining on 
hand when the society disbanded, and 
our attendants in Ward E are de- 
lighted with the scarlet shirts. They 
wear them under blue flannel blouses, 
and are proud of them. Please send 
all that I requested, as we do not ex- 
pect to be upset here by the rebels — 
our hospital is too important an in- 
stitution. Don't forget the cake as my 
[44] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

appetite wavers, and many days I 
take my tea and a piece of cake for 
dessert. 

Monday, 11 a.m.— The " Eebs " did 
not come to take breakfast with us, 
and we did not wait for them. I have 
made out the morning report for 
Jobes, also the medical officer's report, 
and " Kamsdell," the head clerk (since 
he has found out who has arranged 
Jobes's book), says he thinks of hav- 
ing me transferred to the General Of- 
fice. Each wardmaster's report was 
called for, so the surgeons could make 
their reports. Jobes's book, which I 
found incoherent, to say the least, I 
rearranged, and have continued to 
keep it, so it is one among the very 
few which is satisfactory, and Johes 
is very proud of it. 

How do you like my long rambling 
journal letters? They tell me that no 
mail leaves Washington to-day. I 
hoped to have sent this before any ob- 
struction came. Perhaps you had bet- 
ter defer sending me anything until 
[45] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

you are sure the mails and express 
can go through. As there is no more 
fighting at present, our ward is com- 
paratively quiet. Last week it was 
whitewashed and some improvements 
made in the rear. This week we are 
to have new mosquito nets. Sister 
Piatt has a very interesting patient, a 
young lieutenant, wounded in the 
head, whose life, or at least his reason, 
she saved by sending post-haste for 
the leeches, which the doctor pre- 
scribed, and which could not be fur- 
nished in the hospital. He is now 
convalescent, or sufficiently so to be 
moved. His sister, Mrs. McKinley of 
Philadelphia, has come to take him 
home. Being somewhat at leisure I 
joined her and Sister Piatt in a morn- 
ing visit to the White House and Cap- 
itol. We saw the fine statue which is 
to be placed on the dome of the Cap- 
itol, the new Senate chamber, etc., etc. 
The grounds are beautiful, but so far 
we cannot get to them often. Now 
comes the old man to tune the piano 
and renew the rent, and Jobes follows 
[46] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

in a few moments, handing me five 
dollars, contributed by Dr. Stuart and 
the men; they are so anxious to keep 
it. Please thank Will Ogden for the 
papers received this morning. The 
men are looking at them now, and 
often buy papers brought in the ward. 
I was much interested in a letter writ- 
ten by Mrs. Swissholm from " Camp- 
bell Hospital " in the New York Trib- 
une Uncle J sent, as I received 

the lemons in our ward from her hand, 
and was glad to know her impres- 
sions. 

Monday Evening. — This is a per- 
fectly splendid evening, and, with 
Sisters Hill, Piatt, and Marsh I have 
been enjoying it from the window of 
Miss Piatt's room while our bugler 
gave us some sweet music. Forget- 
ting the red tape around us we ap- 
plauded, and at the same time 
watched the signal lights from the 
dome of the Capitol, causing a 
strange ebb and flow of feeling, alter- 
nate joy and sadness, a strange mix- 
[47] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

ture of thoughts of peace and war- 
fare. 

Lieutenant Dickson came to see 
me again this evening — is he not 
kind*? He is so dignified, yet always 
agreeable. It is a great pleasure to 
see and talk with him. He assured 
me that Washington was not in any 
danger of being disturbed, though the 
rebels passed within four or five 
miles of these fortifications last night 
on their way to Harrisburg. The re- 
port to-night is that McClellan is 
called to take Halleck's place; that 
Stanton is superseded by Butler and 
Hooker by Meade. Once more let us 
have faith! I believe Father Abra- 
ham and his advisers have been pret- 
ty well frightened, and will now put 
aside personal ambitions and politics, 
or is it simjDly inexperience? 

My journal letter goes on as I 
could not mail it to-day. "^Yhen Will 

thinks it is safe to send it, I 

would like some money in Govern- 
ment bills. New York money is re- 
fused by some people here. 
[i8] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

I am writing partly because I do 
not wish to retire yet. Dr. Stuart is 
out, in town. Jobes wished to go out 
— something unusual — and there is a 
man in the ward who has been de- 
ranged all day, and this evening is 
quite wild, so I have taken the re- 
sponsibility of giving him some med- 
icine without a prescription, and wait 
for their return. 

Let me hear from you immediately. 
Affectionately, 

Your Sister. 



Armory Square Hospital; 
Washington, D. C; 
August 7, 1863. 

Dear Sisters : I was delighted to get 
your letters, but you must not expect 
me home quite so soon. I do not think 
I can leave before September, al- 
though our duties are light and the 
hospital goes on in a quiet, method- 
ical manner. Dr. Bliss goes to Bos- 
ton next Monday, and Miss Lowell ac- 
companies him. He wishes the rest 
of the ladies to remain until he re- 
[49] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

turns — then our house is to be fin- 
ished about that time, when I could 
choose a room and attend to the mov- 
ing of our few belongings, leaving 
Sister Southwick to keep house. I 
should prefer not to return until there 
was need — about the last of October 
— and must not ask for too long a fur- 
lough, if I wish to retain a right to 
my own ward. 

August 10th. — The weather is ex- 
ceedingly hot, as you can easily imag- 
ine, even with a breeze. Fortunately, 
we have very little to do in our wards. 
The attendants are faithful, yet the 
patients still in bed look wistfully at 
us when we leave. They want some- 
thing to keep them cheerful. A few 
days since, the beds not needed dur- 
ing the day were all put out of doors 
for an airing, and we had only seven 
who could not be moved. The poor 
boy with typhus fever died a few days 
after the fever turned, when we 
thought his life was to be spared. 
His father arrived only in time to 
[50] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

take his lifeless body home, which was 
embalmed, as all the soldiers are who 
die here. He blessed No. 6 and my- 
self over and over for our care of his 
dying boy, and gave ns the wine, etc., 
he brought for him. All the other 
fever patients are convalescent. In 
fact the whole hospital is so comfort- 
able, comparatively, that I tell them 
we are becoming gay and dissipated. 
We have had a number of pleasant 
things to enjoy during the past fort- 
night. The anniversary of the hos- 
pital was celebrated last Saturday, 
and we had a very pleasant evening. 
Ward F was decorated with flags, 
evergreens, and hanging baskets of 
flowers; the beds were taken out, 
seats brought in, and a platform ar- 
ranged at each end — one for a band 
of music, the other for Dr. Bliss, the 
distinguished guests, and the chap- 
lain, who presided. Eepresentative 
Kellogg from Michigan made a fine, 
humorous speech, informing Dr. Bliss 
that he was the recipient of seven 
cases of elegant and rare surgical in- 
[51] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

struments, valued at $480, which his 
friends in the hospital wished to pre- 
sent to him as an expression, etc., etc., 
and Dr. Bliss made a charming little 
speech in reply, in which, as a matter 
of course, he alluded so beautifully to 
the ladies here that afterwards one 
old gentleman said to him, " he did not 
know of which he was most proud, his 
new instruments or his lady nurses." 
There was music by the band; then 
J. M. Edmunds of the Land Office 
made a short speech. Mrs. Fowl, 
an accomplished singer, gave us 
" Red, White and Blue," all joining in 
the chorus. After the crowd dis- 
persed, Dr. Bliss, who has a fine tenor 
voice and belongs to a musical family, 
with his brother and niece sang for us. 
We have little extempore concerts in 
the ward now quite often, as we have 
found among our patients two good 
violinists, a pianist, and one to play 
bass viol. You will wonder how there 
can be any gayety or amusement 
among so much suffering. That is all 
borne and seen, as unavoidable, and 
[52] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

anything that will keep them from des- 
pondency, and will not add to anyone's 
sufferings is welcomed with pleasure. 

I send you a letter written by Walt 
Whitman for a Washington paper 
descriptive of one of these little con- 
certs the soldiers enjoyed so much. 

A soldier's life is one of strange 
contrasts, to which it was difficult at 
first for us to become accustomed. 
One afternoon we had a " reading " 
in the ward by the Hon. Mr. Lyon, 
" The Prisoner of Chillon," and poems 
by Thomas Hood, which I at least en- 
joyed. 

Among other interesting events, 
one night a hah^ arrived. A wife of 
one of the soldiers, who came to see 
her husband, gave birth to a fine boy 
at the chaplain's house on the night of 
her arrival. Our surgeon, Dr. Stuart, 
was called, and the child is soon to be 
christened " Stuart Jackson " for him 
and the chaplain. The mother had no 
clothing for herself or child, but soon 
received enough to last a year. We 
all prophesy he is born to be a soldier. 
[53] 



The Lady INTurse of Ward E 

We have enjoyed two long drives in 
Dr. Bliss's Michigan wagon; an ac- 
count of which I send you in rhyme, 
as Sister Southwick insisted on my 
writing it out, promising " to do some- 
thing for me while I was writing " — • 
your old offer repeated. 

The other drive was still more in- 
teresting. We, Sisters Piatt, Hill, 
Southwick, and I, had a nice ambu- 
lance and driver, according to an order 
from Dr. Bliss. Being obliged to go 
to the Provost Marshal's Office for a 
pass, we sent in our driver with Dr. 
Bliss's written request to get one, but 
word was returned that we were all to 
go in, for which our surgeons try to 
tease us, saying it was not at all nec- 
essary. The office was filled with 
clerks and dignitaries, and you may 
believe we had some jokes among our- 
selves. I whispered to Miss Piatt, 
rather louder than was necessary, 
that they ought to tie a piece of red 
tape around each of our necks, and if 
they did not describe us as pretty 
good-looking we would not sign the 
[54] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

paper. We drove over the " Long 
Bridge " into Virginia, " ole Virgin- 
ny," and many miles to Fort Corcoran 

and Fort de Kalb, where Sister S 

has a friend (Mrs. Colonel Tannat), 
her husband having command of the 
fortifications. He gave us a pass to 
go inside, and we were obliged to show 
it to three before we were allowed to 
enter. Then an orderly showed and 
explained everything to ns, which was 
of great interest. On our return at 
sunset we had a most beautiful view 
of Washington and Georgetown. We 
crossed the bridge to the latter, and re- 
turned that way. The roads in Vir- 
ginia were worse even than " cordu- 
roy," and on our return from the fort 
we were obliged to hold on to one an- 
other. 

I must also tell you of a new ac- 
quaintance, George Wood, Esq., au- 
thor of " Peter Schlemyl," etc. 

We often now spend an evening at 
Mrs. Irving's. On one occasion, a fine- 
looking, middle-aged gentleman with 
gold-rimmed spectacles came to me, 
[55] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

and commenced an interesting conver- 
sation (rather sentimental I thought 
at the time) about our hospital, etc., at 
the close of which he said he should do 
himself the pleasure of coming to see 
us. I did not know who he was, and 
thought no more of it, until later he 
came to my ward with Sister Griggs, 
who had met him before, and intro- 
duced himself as an author, etc. He 
expressed much interest in our antici- 
pated anniversary, and accepted our 
invitation to attend with pleasure. 
Another noted author, Walt Whit- 
man, visits our hospital almost daily. 
He took a fancy to my fever boy, and 
would watch with him sometimes half 
the night. He is a poet, and I believe 
has written some very queer books 
about " Free Love," etc. He is an 
odd-looking genius, with a heavy 
frame, tall, with a turned-down By- 
ronic collar, high head with straggling 
hair, and very pinh rims to his eyes. 
When he stalks down the ward I feel 
the " prickings of my thumbs," and 
never speak to him, if not obliged to 
[56] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

do so, thougli I hear some of the other 
ladies offer him a cup of tea, which 
he enjoys with the relish of a little 
talk with them. With all his peculiar 
interest in our soldier boys he does 
not appeal to me. 

Sister S and I have just now a 

pleasant companion — a sweet, pretty 
girl, just from boarding school — Miss 
Fox, sister to a major who was 
brought into Sister Southwick's ward 
a fortnight since in a critical condi- 
tion, but is now doing well. They be- 
long to a clergyman's family living 
near Eochester. She is the only 
daughter and has four brothers in the 
army — one a chaplain, one a major, 
another a captain, and the last a lieu- 
tenant. The major is very pleasant. 
He sent me an " enigma,'^ having ar- 
ranged it to pass away the time, which 
I solved and took to him in Ward H 
last evening, and enjoyed a very 
pleasant talk with him. 

The weather is so exceedingly hot 
and our wards are in such a comfort- 
able condition I regret that I cannot 
[57] 



The Lady Xurse of Ward E 

be at home now, and we nurses are 
tempted to go to Point Lookout on the 
seashore, or to Gettysburg, where 
nurses are needed, and we would have 
good mountain air, but fear Dr. Bb'ss 
would never forgive us. However, the 
few weeks will soon pass. I shall be 
so happy to be at home and see you 
all again, and perhaps remain into Oc- 
tober. 

With love, 
Affectionately yours. 



[58] 



A SCENE IN HOSPITAL 

Written by Walt Whitman, 1863. 

I MUST give you a scene from one of 
the great Government hospitals here. 
I go to them every day to inspirit the 
drooping cases, and give the men little 
gifts, sometimes of articles, sometimes 
of money. Two or three nights ago, 
as I was trying to keep cool, sitting by 
a wounded soldier in the Armory 
Square Hospital, I was attracted by 
some pleasant singing in an adjoining 
ward. As my soldier was asleep I left 
him, and entering the ward where the 
music was, I walked halfway down 
and took a seat by the cot of a young 

BrookljTi friend, S. K , badly 

wounded in the hand at Chancellors- 
ville, and who has suffered much, but 
who at that moment in the evening was 
wide awake and comparatively easy. 
He had turned over on his left side to 
get a better view of the singers, but 
[59] 



The Lady. Nurse of Ward E 

the plentiful drapery of the mosquito 
curtains of the adjoining cots ob- 
structed the sight. I stepped round 
and looped them all up so that he had 
a clear show, and then sat down again 
by him and looked and listened. The 
principal singer was a young lady 
nurse of one of the wards, accompany- 
ing on a melodeon and joined by the 
lady nurses of other wards. They sat 
there making a charming group with 
their handsome, healthy faces, and 
standing up a little behind them were 
some ten or fifteen of the convalescent 
soldiers, young men, nurses, etc., with 
books in their hands, taking part in 
the singing. Of course, it was not 
such a performance as Medori or 
Brignoli and the choruses at your 
New York Fourteenth Street Acad- 
emy of Music take a hand in; but 
I am not sure but I received as 
much pleasure under the circum- 
stances sitting there as I have had 
from the best Italian compositions, ex- 
pressed by world-famous performers. 
The scene was indeed an impressive 
[60] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

one. The men lying up and down the 
hospital in their cots (some badly 
wounded — and, perhaps, never to rise 
thence), the cots themselves with 
their drapery of white curtains, and 
the shadows down the upper and lower 
parts of the ward; then the silence 
of the men and the attitudes they took 
— nothing to interrupt the singing — 
and the whole combination was a sight 
to look around upon again and again. 
And there sweetly rose those fresh 
female voices up to the high, white- 
washed wooden roof, and pleasantly 
the roof sent it all back again. They 
sang very well; mostly quaint old 
songs and declamatory hymns to fit- 
ting tunes. Here, for instance^ is one 
of the songs they sang : 

HOMEWARD BOUND 

Out on an ocean all boundless we ride ; 

We're homeward bound — homeward bound; 
Toss'd on the waves of a rough, restless tide, 

Yet homeward bound, homeward bound. 
Far from the safe, quiet harbor we've rode, 
Seeking our Father^s celestial abode. 
Promise of which on us each He bestowed, 

So we're homeward bound. 
[61] 



The Ladv IN'urse of Ward E 
*■ • 

Wildly the storm sweeps on us where it roars, 

Yet we're homeward bound; 
Look! yonder lie the bright heavenly shores, 

Where we're homeward bound. 
Steady, O pilot, stand firm at the wheel; 
Steady! we soon shall outweather the gale; 
Oh, how we fly 'neath the loud-creaking sail, 

As we're homeward bound. 

As the strains reverberated through 
the great edifice of boards, it was 
plain to see how it all soothed and was 
grateful to the men. 

The singers went on; they sang 
" Home, Sweet Home," and a beauti- 
ful h}Tnn called " Shining Shores.'^ I 
saw one of the soldiers near me turn 
over and bury his face partially in his 
pillow; he was probably ashamed to 
be seen with wet eyes. Since I have 
mentioned it, let me give a verse or 
two: 

SHINING SHORES 

My days are gliding swiftly by, and I, a Pilgrim 
stranger, 

Would not detain them as I fly, those hours of 
toil and danger; 

For oh, we stand on Jordan's strand, our friends 
are passing over. 

And just before, the shining shores we may al- 
most discover. 

[62] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

We'll gird our loins, my brethren dear, our dis- 
tant homes discerning, 

Our absent Lord has left us word, let every lamp 
be burning; 

For oh, we stand on Jordan s strand, our friends 
are passing over, 

And just before, the shining shores we may al- 
most discover. 

Such were the fine and vivifying 
songs these girls sang there for all 
our sakes, until quite late in the night. 
The sounds and scene altogether have 
made an indelible impression on my 
memory. 

SOLDIERS, TALKS, ETC. 

Soldiers you meet everywhere about 
the city, often superb-looking young 
men, though invalids, dressed in worn 
uniforms, and carrying canes, or, per- 
haps, crutches. I often have talks 
with them, occasionally quite long and 
interesting. One, for instance, will 
have been all through the Peninsula 
campaign under McClellan, narrates 
to me the fights, the marches, the 
strange, quick changes of that event- 
ful campaign, and gives glimpses of 
[63] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

many tilings untold in any official re- 
ports or books or journals. These, in- 
deed, are the things that are genuine 
and most precious. The man was 
there, has been out two years, has 
been through a dozen fights, the super- 
fluous flesh of talking is long worked 
off him, and now he gives me little 
but the hard meat and sinew. 

I find it so refreshing to talk with 
these hardy, bright, intuitive Amer- 
ican young men (experienced soldiers 
with all their youth). The vital play 
and significance of their talk moves 
one more than books. Then there 
hangs something majestic about a man 
who has borne his part in battles, 
especially if he is very quiet regard- 
ing it when you desire him to un- 
bosom. I am continually lost at the 
absence of blowing and blowers 
among these old-young American mili- 
taires. 

But in the hospitals I have talked 

most with the men for months past. 

I have found some man or another 

who has been in every battle since the 

[64] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

war began, and have talked with them 
about each one, in every part of the 
United States, and many of the en- 
gagements on the rivers and harbors, 
too. I find men here from every State 
in the Union, without exception. 
(There are more Southerners, espe- 
cially Border State men, in the Union 
army than is generally supposed). I 
now doubt whether one can get a fair 
idea of what this war practically is, 
or what genuine America is, and her 
character, without some such experi- 
ence as this I have had for the past 
seven or eight months in the hospitals. 



[65] 



DIARY. 

November 4, 1863. 
Left home for Washington, return- 
ing to my hospital duties — a fatiguing 
day's ride on the railway, though from 
Philadelphia I was enlivened by the 
interesting conversation of a gen- 
tleman who asked the privilege of 
occupying the half of my seat. Af- 
ter finishing our papers and tak- 
ing a slight nap I concluded a 
little conversation would relieve 
the embarrassment of such a close 
proximity, and saw that he was 
very politely waiting for me ; so I ven- 
tured a remark, and when the ice was 
once broken, conversation did not 

cease until we reached W , when 

he escorted me to the car, and left it 
at Seventh Street to put me on the 
one which passed Armory Square 
Hospital, where he bade "Adieu," 
with a " God bless you," and '' Happy 
[67] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

to have met you." I wonder ivho he 
is ! Eeceived a pleasant welcome 
from friends at the hospital and from 
my soldiers in Ward E. My bright- 
eyed Johnny — the ^' Pet," so yomig 
and winning, when the spasms of suf- 
fering were over — was not there to 
greet me, but I pray God is awaiting 
me in heaven. My hospital sisters 
took me to our " chateau," and Sister 
Southwick found some supper for me 
at the chaplain's, after which we went 
to Ward B, where Sister Piatt was 
presiding at one of her little evening 
concerts to amuse the patients. 

November 5, 1863. 
Miss Low retained my ward until 
evening, giving me an opportunity to 
unpack. After dinner I rode in am- 
bulance to the " Dismounted Camp " 
with Sisters Southwick, Griggs, and 
Hill, and Drs. Draper and Banister, 
which gave us a very good idea of the 
front. " Dahle," former Orderly, who 
had been at the hospital only two days 
before I returned, and reported him- 
[68] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

self at the camp, recognized the es- 
tablishment and came to meet us. We 
inspected their hospital cooking ap- 
paratus, tents, officers' quarters, which 
were very nicely arranged, and last 
but not least, tasted their coffee which 
" Dahle " offered us after cleaning a 
cup. On my return reported to Dr. 
Bliss, who gave me AVard E, and sent 
word to Miss Low to report to him. 
Mr. Ramsdell came in with a pleasant 
welcome in the evening. 

November 6, 1863. 
Spent most of the day in my ward; 
I find my Philadelphia student (who 
is acting " No. 6 " while Patterson is 
at home on a short furlough to vote) 
very companionable and agreeable. 
Sister Hill came in for a little talk in 
the evening. Mr. Ramsdell also called 
(I don't know what for), though he 
said " to see if my hair was arranged 
differently," as he protests against the 
change — the new " Waterfall." 



[69] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

* 

November 7, 1863. 
Endeavored to get my ward in order 
for to-morrow's inspection. Mrs. Sec- 
retary Welles and her sweet niece 
came in the afternoon; they wel- 
comed me so cordially with a kiss 
I was much pleased and shall 
avail myself of their kind invitation 
to visit them. Played over some of 
my music on Miss Felton's piano. 
Wrote until very late — commenced a 
journal letter for my sisters at home. 

November 8, 1863. 
Not one hour for quiet meditation. 
Miss Piatt was absent spending a week 
with Mrs. Colonel Whistler at Fort 
Corcoran. " No. 6 " and I were in- 
vited to join our choir and follow the 
melodeon through all of the services 
in the different wards, which lasted 
until five o'clock. In the evening I at- 
tended the Episcopal church on Sev- 
enth Street with Sisters Southwick 
and Griggs, and Dr. Banister. 



[70] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

November 9, 1863. 
I was aroused about three in the 
morning by our " orderlies " coming 
for the keys to our medicine chests, 
and giving information of the arrival 
of the wounded from the late engage- 
ment at Eappahannock Station, where 
they say our troops have gained a vic- 
tory, but oh! at what a fearful price. 
I never witnessed such suffering be- 
fore — such frightful wounds. Nine 
died on the way here, one also very 
suddenly in our ward. I made him 
some toast water which he took from 
my hands and drank, thanking me for 
it, then went to my supper; when I 
returned in about twenty minutes his 
bed was empty. Although suffering 
severely he showed such a meek and 
quiet spirit, I feel confident that he 
inherits one of God's gracious prom- 
ises — " Blessed are the meek." I was 
completely occupied all day, using my 
leisure moments to write letters for 
the men, conversing with visitors, who 
throng the hospital — retired weary 
with the sight and sound of suffering 
[71] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

and saddened with the thought of find- 
ing another empty bed in the morn- 
ing. May God have mercy on the poor 
sufferers ! 

November 10, 1863. 

Another empty bed as we feared, 
and one of our lieutenants, wounded 
near the lungs, breathes as if his hours 
were numbered — Lieutenant Waite of 
the Sixth Maine; the other one. Lieu- 
tenant Potter, wounded in the arm, is 
very comfortable. Mailed a letter for 
home to-day. 

November 11, 1863. 

I was excited and delighted this 
morning to find Lieutenant Waite 
much more comfortable, conscious, 
and able to take nourishment; his 
cousin, who is in the Quartermaster 
General's office, is staying with him. 
He showed me this evening the carte 
de visite of the Lieutenant's sister 
and the lady to whom he is engaged, 
both beautiful and very interesting in 
appearance. What agony they must 
suffer ! Am happy to record my " eta- 
gere" has been painted and var- 
[72] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

nished, so I can commence to put my 
ward in order. I was delighted to see 
Dahle, who called at " The Chateau " 
this afternoon, and related to me his 

experiences since he left W , which 

were very interesting as he has been in 
active srvice. I hurried to the ward 
to attend to " Special Diet." Spent 
the rest of the morning in Ward F, 
where we had the melodeon, some 
singing, and the violinist. 

November 12, 1863. 
Beautiful day. " One of summer's 
jewels which she let fall when gather- 
ing up her treasures to depart." Had 
lunch en fa7nille, at the " Chateau " ; 
I was surprised to hear from Miss 
Felton that James Gibbons, a brother 
of my old teacher, Professor Gibbons, 
was the author of the " New Gospel of 
Peace." Read a very ludicrous and 
characteristic letter from Walt Whit- 
man to his " fellow comrades," as he 
called the soldiers. As they failed to 
understand the jumbled sentences 
written on foolscap, they brought it to 
[73] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

me. He was spending a vacation with 
his mother in Brooklyn, and his love 
for them was repeated in many inco- 
herent sentences. I could only im- 
agine it was written very late at night 
and he had taken " a drop too much." 
Had a long and satisfactory conver- 
sation with Dr. Bliss about the " Spe- 
cial Diet." Lieutenant Waite's brother 
arrived. 

I mended my bags in the evening. 
They are so serviceable. They were a 
happy thought of our friend, Mrs. 
Livermore, through whom I offered 
my services to Dr. Bliss. They were 
made at her suggestion by our 
church sewing society at Yonkers, N. 
Y., to button over the top of the iron 
bedstead, in which the occupant could 
keej) his toilet articles, home pictures, 
etc. I was surprised by a call from 
Dr. Bobbins, who has left Pittsburg 
and who is again waiting for an open- 
ing at Armory Square. 



[74] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

November 13, 1863. 
Lieutenant Waite died at six o'clock 
this morning ; what grief for those two 
young hearts! Enjoyed some fine 
music in Mrs. Wilson's room, by the 
Captain of the "Invalid Corps," do- 
ing guard duty. 

November 14, 1863. 
Being Saturday I have been more 
than occupied. Had my canary 
brought from Ward H. Arranged my 
" etagere," the shelves and table on 
which rests my medicine chest, and 
the ward generally, until nearly five 
o'clock. Found Miss Piatt at the 
" Chateau " and chatted awhile with 
her. After tea proposed having music 
in our ward, as we have so many pa- 
tients in bed, but Miss Marsh insisted 
upon having it in hers. Mr. Eamsdell 
came in and spent an hour with me, 
then we went to find Sister Hill, who 
was in G, with the music. It is rain- 
ing furiously, and " No. 6 " borrowed 
an umbrella and came home with me. 



[75] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

November 15, 1863. 
Inspection as usual, our ward pro- 
nounced " perfect." Funeral services 
for the Maine men (nine in number) 
were held in the open air; the Flag 
which they had so nobly defended was 
draped over their coffins and wreaths 
of white flowers laid on their breasts 
(which are to be sent home to their 
relatives). The chaplain and others 
made a few remarks, and all the Maine 
people and agents in town followed, 
with many from the hospital, in car- 
riages, to the soldiers' cemetery. At- 
tended the Wesleyan Chapel with Dr. 
Baxter in the evening, whom I found 
conversable, and enjoyed my walk 
very much. 

November 16, 1863. 
Found my Philadelphia student act- 
ing orderly ill in bed, with an abscess 
forming in his throat, which would 
have been quite serious for me, as well 
as himself, if my old " No. 6 " (Pat- 
terson) had not returned. I made and 
applied poultices all day to his throat, 
without losing my presence of mind, 
[76] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

like the heroine of Fannie' s story, who 
could not remember where it was to be 
put. He amused and entertained me 
very much, and we could not resist 
joking even when he could hardly 
speak. Mr. Ramsdell passed the most 
of the evening in my ward, which 
made an otherwise dull one very 
pleasant. 

November 17, 1863. 
Found my especial patient some- 
what better, the swelling having bro- 
ken. Received a call from Surgeon 
Smith, who had in his charge all the 
officers outside of the hospital and 
visits those at the chaplain's daily. 
He had also in his care Clara Okell's 
father, who is dangerously injured, 
and came to tell me that she was with 
him and would come to see me per- 
haps to-morrow. I went in to see 
Colonel Millett, as Mrs. Jackson, the 
chaplain's wife, insisted; found him 
very cheerful and agreeable. Dr. 
Baxter came in also, and it is un- 
necessary to repeat my favorable im- 
pression of him. Found a wee little 
[77] 



The Lady >\irse of Ward E 

mouse inside of my packing trunk and 
invited ^' No. 6 '' down to punish him 
for his presumption; he also took a 
large picture which I brought from 
home to the ward and hung it very 
nicely. After dinner I invited my 
Philadelphia friend to accompany me 
to the ^^ Chateau/' or " Shamoh " as 
he calls it, as he was still feeling mis- 
erably, and thought perhaps the sight 
of a comfortable room and chair would 
do him good. Gave him some cherry 
brandy and cake, taught him to play 
backgammon, so he returned quite 
refreshed. Lovely Indian summer 
weather; but could not make the ex- 
ertion to take a walk; played back- 
gammon in the evening. 

November 18, 1863. 
An anniversary which made me 
quite thoughtful, and perhaps a little 
sad. Miss Okell came to see me with 
Surgeon Smith. It was delightful to 
see a face from Yonkers. I went into 
the chaplain's to wait for her escort, 
who was still busy with his dis- 
[78] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

tinguished patients, who afterwards 
came in and chatted awhile. The 
chaplain as usual offered a few jokes. 
Attended Miss to the ambu- 
lance, while Dr. S paused to have 

a conversation with Dr. Bliss, whom 
we met. Waited a few moments after 
giving out " Special Diet " to see the 
men paid. Friend Conyers came to 
the " Chateau " and tacked up my cur- 
tain. I found his note of thanks with 
his now useless bandage on my table. 
It grieves me to see my noble-hearted 
" 49 " suffer such intense agony, and 
makes me restless and determined to 
have something done to alleviate it, 
though I fear amputation will alone 

suffice. Went with Friend C to 

Miss P 's ward to hear the music, 

but she had decided not to have it 
there this evening, so called on Miss 
Griggs and Dr. Banister and ar- 
ranged an impromptu concert in Ward 
A, which the patients seemed to enjoy 
verv much. 



[79] 



The Lady ^^l^se of Ward E 

November 19, 1863. 
Feeling quite indisposed I yielded to 
Miss Griggs's persuasions to consult 
Dr. Alcan. Requested a special pass 
of Dr. Bliss for Conyers, to accom- 
pany the ward master and assist him 
in selecting clock, etc., for our ward, 
as he had collected over thirteen dol- 
lars, with which to make improve- 
ments. Received the riding skirt from 
Miss Okell by Dr. Smith. Mrs. and 
Miss Irving called. I intended to go 
out and select a piano, but felt weak 
and nervous (something unusual for 
me), and after the ladies returned to 
their wards I enjoyed the delicious 
quiet of the twilight and the fading 
sunset behind the varied and fanci- 
ful architecture of the Smithsonian. 
There was not an interruption but one 
— the boy who brought my tea — until 
a short time before " taps " Miss 

G and Dr. Banister came in; but 

I had no spirit for conversation and 
retired behind " the scenes," or screen. 



[80] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

November 20, 1863. 
I passed a miserable night and did 
not leave my bed until my breakfast 
was brought, of which I could eat very 
little — the toast being tough and sour. 
Although feeling very weak I have 
spent an unusually interesting day — 
in fact, our little reception room was 
not without visitors from 9 a.m. until 
4 P.M., though I retired to my room at 
three. In the morning my friends 
here called — Conyers, Miss Irwin, 
Mrs. Wilson, Dr. Stuart (who came 
professionally), and Johnny Hege- 
man, who returned last night, and 
Mrs. Jackson, by whom I sent some 
pickled plums to her two interesting 
patients, and Dr. Dexter. At dinner 

time Mrs. J brought me some very 

nice pudding, though Mrs. Wilson had 
sent me an abundance, for which I had 
a very good appetite, not having had 
any breakfast. At 1 p.m. the escort 
and band of music came to take Major 
Wheeler's body (of the Fifth Wiscon- 
sin, though late of Boston, and which 
has been lying in state in a tent put 
[81] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

up for it yesterday soon after he died) 
to the train. His sweet young wife 
sustains herself beautifully under her 
great grief, but was quite overcome 
when the lieutenant of his regiment 
came to the door of our little room to 
find her, as we had invited her and her 
friends to sit here while waiting the 
arrangement of the ceremonies. Sis- 
ter S opened the door of our bed- 
room, that she might rest a moment 
in seclusion and weep unrestrainedly. 
When the body was placed in the 
hearse, the low, solenm music of the 
band was very impressive. The body- 
guard stood on either side, with their 
bayonets reversed; the large escort 
were outside the gate, and when the 
hearse and carriages had passed out, 
it moved on in sad procession to the 
dirgelike music. Colonel Millett, to 
whom I sent an invitation to share our 
window, as he is too much of an in- 
valid to stand, was as agreeable as 
usual. Immediately after the proces- 
sion left Dr. Draper came in, soon fol- 
lowed by a lady (Miss Smith), who 
[82J 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

belongs to an old family here and is 
quite a character, I should imagine. 
Her conversation was most fluent and 
cultivated, which I enjoyed exceeding- 
ly, although I could not coincide with 
some of her opinions. In expressing 
her bitter sentiments against Seces- 
sionists, she included her own sister, 
and forgot the Christian charity which 
we are taught by our blessed Saviour's 
example and jDrecept to cultivate 
above all things. Our French sur- 
geon, Dr. Alcan, made us the last call 
before tea. Fortunately I had retired. 
Mrs. Jackson brought me my tea, 
which was so good and homelike that 
it turned my thoughts thitherward. 
Mrs. Wilson sent me some supper, too, 
which I gave to the guard, who was 
then pacing up and down before the 
window, and the poor fellow's grati- 
tude gave me double pleasure. The 
ladies returned home early, and a Mr. 
Pond, from the Treasury Depart- 
ment, accompanied Miss Griggs and 
spent a half hour. I retired early. 

[83] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

November 21, 1863. 

This was one of Beecher's rainy 
days, *^ pouring with a good will," so 
there was no going to my ward, and 
to tell the truth I did not feel much 
like it. Dr. Stuart, Conyers, and my 
ward master each paid me a formal 
visit this morning. After dinner the 
ladies assembled in our little recep- 
tion room, according to " Special Or- 
der '^ from Dr. Bliss to meet him, but 
the hour passed and he did not keep 
his engagement. I have since heard 
he was ill and that he went home. 

We read Edward Everett's splendid 
oration at the consecration of the Na- 
tional Cemetery at Gettysburg. The 
prayer by the chaplain of the Senate 
(Eev. Mr. Stockton) was sublime, and 
our President's brief remarks were 
more than eloquent and worthy of the 
occasion; so we all sewed and read 
and had quite a social meeting, else I 
would have been very lonely this dis- 
mal day. Augustus brought me my tea 
and a bowl of nice oyster soup, which 
I divided with the guard pacing up 
[84] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

and down in the rain, and I enjoyed 
his part as much as my own, when he 
returned the bowl by the open window 
looking so well pleased. Miss Piatt 
came in early, and I was delighted to 
see her, having played " solitaire " 
quite long enough; it was very fortu- 
nate that she did, for the stupid guard 
(not the one to whom I gave the oys- 
ters) let a drunken man pass belong- 
ing to one of the wards, and seeing our 
light, concluded to call ; but Miss Piatt 
sprang to the doors and locked them, 
so he went on and I gave the guard a 
short lecture (professionally). 

November 22, 1863. 
I dressed at my leisure, not wishing 
to go to my ward until after inspec- 
tion, and called on Mrs. Jackson and 
stayed until I saw the train of medical 
officers pass out. I enjoyed a chat with 
the two patients, who were agreeable 
as usual. Spent the day in my ward, 
as I could not expose myself to the 
damp earth, and was unwilling to re- 
main a prisoner in the " Chateau." I 
[85] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

found one of my soldiers very weak 
from hemorrhages and Dr. Stuart 
vainly endeavoring to keep off one of 
his violent attacks of headache, so 
kept moving about, determined that 
another surgeon should come to at- 
tend our patient. I increased his stim- 
ulants and succeeded at last in getting 
Dr. Keenan here. Had a very pleas- 
ant conversation with No. 49. After 
reading to him a chapter from the 
New Testament, I attended services in 
Ward F, where we had quite an inter- 
esting speaker; the Baptist choir was 
also present, but our chaplain was ab- 
sent. I was too much fatigued to go 
farther after reporting to Mr. Green, 
who conducted the services, that we 
could not have him in " E '' to-day. I 
returned to the ward and read a sweet 
little poem, " Charlie, the Drummer 
Boy," aloud to some of my soldiers 
gathered about the stove, who seemed 
very much interested. I went with 
Conyers to Ward C, to assist in sing- 
ing and then home thoroughly fa- 
tigued. 

[86] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

November 23, 1863. 
Miss Griggs accompanied me to se- 
lect a piano. I was so fortunate as to 
find one, but she will be obliged to wait 
a week as pianos are in such demand 
at this season. I bought a pretty- 
lamp, also, for our ward. I was 
obliged to rest a while, before going 
there, on my return — I am so weak 
since my three days' indisposition. I 
arranged to send ambulance and men 
after the piano, and sent Dr. Stuart 
after the pass for them. Conyers is 
so full of spirits, keeps us all lively, 
and amuses me greatly. I spent the 
afternoon with Sisters Piatt and 
Griggs sewing and chatting, more of 
the latter. This was a musical even- 
ing; two officers (captains), formerly 
in Ward F, came from Georgetown, 
where they were transferred to offi- 
cers' quarters which they do not like 
at all, after their comforts here under 
Sister HilPs supervision, and being 
musical they sang and played on the 
melodeon. We went to hear them and 
invited them to come to Ward " E," 
[87] 



The Ladv Nurse of Ward E 

^ • 

and the audience followed. Miss 
Piatt, Conyers and others sang. 
Cross, a patient in Ward C, and some 
one else played violins, with Curtiss 
accompanying them on the piano. 
Mrs. Wilson's eldest daughter (who, 
by the way, is very pretty) also joined 
us, so we had quite a concert and in- 
augurated our piano in " E." 

November 24, 1863. 
This was a rainy morning, and feel- 
ing miserable, sent for my breakfast. 
I had just reached the ward and was 
making out " Special Diet " fortu- 
nately, when Dr. Bliss came in pre- 
pared to find fault with our special 
order for milk; but being at my post, 
I was able to explain satisfactorily. 
I practised my music after dinner, 
which I enjoyed much; wrote in my 
journal, played backgammon with pa- 
tients, and had music in the evening. 
No. 39 quite comfortable — in fact, we 
had given him so much punch and it 
was so strong that he was inclined to 
be talkative. There was melodeon 
[88] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

music and singing in " C,'^ but I de- 
clined the invitation to join. Ee- 
ceived a letter from home this morn- 
ing, which raised my drooping si)irits, 
but was disappointed because they 
fail to order my carte de visites. I 
was amused, however, by the news 
generally, particularly that of the 
three engagements, and of the pur- 
chase of a town house. What next? 

November 25, 1863. 
I was in my ward all day, and was 
very busy. I cut the paper for ward 
master and Conyers to put over the 
windows where the old fringe was 
torn, which annoyed me so much all 
summer. New stoves were put in the 
ward. Two of our worst cases were 
removed to ^^ I," which is also in Dr. 
Stuart's charge at present, and two 
others to " K," as Dr. Bliss is at last 
sensible of the fact that we had more 
wounded than any other ward, and 
too many for the good of the patients, 
so feel quite relieved of care. After 

dinner I found Sister S suffer- 

[89] 



The Lady IJfurse of Ward E 

ing from severe headache; gave her 
an emetic, etc. I made arrangements 
with " N. York Relief man," who is to 

furnish Miss P and myself with 

oysters and cranberries for our sol- 
diers on Thanksgiving Day (to-mor- 
row). When I returned to my ward 
I found Conyers finishing the paper, 
and as No. 6 went out I took Johnny 

H for orderly, who assisted me 

in framing some pictures, gave out the 
medicines, etc. There was music for 
an hour. 

Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1863. 
The unclouded sky and exhilarating 
atmosphere were types of the sun- 
shine and joy in hearts made glad by 
a holiday. Our soldiers seemed to en- 
joy their freedom and the good things 
prepared for them, and as that is the 
one especial object to which we are 
devoting ourselves at this time, we 
were happy too. We also had a fine 
dinner for which we were thankful, 
not having fared very sumptuously of 
late ; Dr. Alcan having kindly remem- 
[90] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

bered us by sending some of his nice 
French cordial with his compliments, 
we made ourselves quite merry with 
toasts, the first being to Dr. Alcan^s 
health, " Long may he wave," offered 

by Miss Piatt, to which Miss A 

added, " Before the grass grows over 
his grave " ; the second to " Our Sur- 
geon in charge " ; the third, " The 
Laziest Surgeon in the Hospital " ; 
the fourth, " Mrs. Gray, who sends us 
such palatable ' Special Diet ' for our 
soldiers " ; the fifth and last, to " Mr. 
Wilson: may he live to provide us 
with another Thanksgiving dinner, 
and as much longer as his wife de- 
sires." 

The band of music I enjoyed ex- 
ceedingly — it was just the sunset 
hour. Mr. George Wood, the author 
of " Gates Wide Open," otherwise 
styled, "Peter Schlemyl," called for 
the first time since my return, and ac- 
companied Miss Griggs and myself to 
the " Reading in H " by Miss Harriet 
Fanning Read, in whom we were dis- 
appointed, though I enjoyed as I 
[91] 



V 



The Lady Jfurse of Ward E 

should anyone who read comprehen- 
sively one of Shakespeare's plays. 
Sister Southwick presented me with 
" Hospital Sketches," by Louisa M. 
Alcott; Miss Marsh treated us with 
Boston mince pie at the " Chateau " in 
the evening, over Vv^hich we gossiped 
a while before retiring. 

November 27, 1863. 
With regret we said " Good-by " 
and parting good wishes to Dr. Bax- 
ter, who goes to the front. Dr. Stuart 
did not make his morning rounds, so 
we took our duties quite leisurely. 
After dinner I supplemented our 
scanty meal with coffee and mince pie 
at the " Chateau,'' having with me 
Sisters Piatt, Southwick, Hill, and 
Marsh. This was a pleasant day in 
my ward, as no one was suffering se- 
verely, and everything glided along 
smoothly. Miss Thomas came and 
sang for the patients while I was at 
the house; in the evening I played 
backgammon with No. 6, wrote in 
Miss Piatt's letter to Dr. Bowen after 
[92] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

perusing his to her. Conyers escort- 
ed me home, where we found quite a 
party, Drs. Stearns and Bobbins tak- 
ing coffee with the ladies. 

November 28, 1863. 
This was another dark, rainy day. 
Eetired to the ^' Chateau " with a sick 
headache. Mrs. Jackson, hearing I 
was ill again, came in, prescribed for 
me and brought in some homelike 
toast and tea. Miss Griggs being con- 
fined to the house also with a sore 
throat, we could converse over the 
partition which separates our rooms, 
and I was entertained by the conver- 
sation between her and -Dr. Banister, 
her surgeon, who is really the most 
sociable, agreeable, and conversable 
surgeon I have met here. The ladies 
reported a very fine concert in my 
ward. Miss Thomas sang to quite a 
crowd, and as she is young and pretty, 
the soldiers enjoyed it very much. 



[93] 



V 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

November 29, 1863. 

I took breakfast with Sister Griggs 
at the " Chateau," went to my ward 
just before " inspection," and did not 
return until evening. It gave me 
pleasure to be able to obtain a special 
pass for Conyers, who wished to dine 
with his cousins; talked with No. 48 
for an hour to make him forget that 
he was suffering (and believe he 
did) listening to him while he was de- 
scribing their part in the storming 
of Mary's Height, and keeping the 
enemy in check at the battle of Chan- 
cellorsville, and crossing the Eappa- 
hannock in small boats, etc. The Hon- 
orable Mr. Lovejoy came in with the 
wife and daughter of a senator (I be- 
lieve from Illinois), with whom I had 
a pleasant conversation, and who of- 
fered her services if they could assist 
me during the winter. I met Mrs. Ir- 
ving and Mr. Ashton White in Sister 
Piatt's ward. 



[94] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

November 30, 1863. 

I went with Sister S to hospital 

nursery to select plants for our win- 
dow shelves, then to ask Mrs. Samp- 
son of the Sanitary Commission to in- 
tercede with the surgeon general, and 
ask that our " dresser " might be re- 
tained as all the Ohio soldiers are to 
leave to-morrow. I was pleased to 
hear that Colonel Wysworth from 
Yonkers has charge of the Invalid 
Corps and is in town. The mother 
and brother of No. 48 arrived unex- 
pectedly and his delight gave me 
much pleasure to witness. As they 
were strangers and knew not where 
to find a lodging place, the old lady 
proposed remaining by his bedside all 
night, which being against the rules 
I took Conyers home with me to ask 

Sister S to take a spare bed in 

Mrs. Ripley's room, so I could occupy 
hers and give mine to the old lady, 
for which she was very thankful. 

I found the ladies somewhat excited 
and in consultation with the General 
Ward Master, as "Uncle Ben" had ex- 
[95] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

erted himself so tremendously to get 
our house warm, the furnace pipe was 
red hot and we were fearful it would 
ignite the floor; a little management 
soon subdued it, and we passed a 
quiet night, with the exception of Sis- 
ter Hill, who required some mustard 
paste, which lulled her again to for- 
getfulness. 

December 1, 1863. 

Dr. Bliss appointed another meet- 
ing of the lady nurses at the " Cha- 
teau," and again disappointed us. I 
found a note from Henry (our dress- 
er), who was obliged to leave, and 
did so without saying " Good-by '' to 
anyone, he feeling so moved that he 
was obliged to write it. I regret ex- 
ceedingly that I did not go to Colonel 

Wysworth en personne. Miss P 

spent part of the evening in Ward E, 
there being music and chatting gener- 
ally. 

December 2, 1863. 
Dr. Smith called and insisted upon 
my going to see Miss Okell. I con- 
cluded to ignore my headache and go, 
[96] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

and as his ambulance was at the door, 
I called for her to accompany us to 
see the head of the bronze statue of 
the " Goddess of Liberty," which 
crowns the dome of the Capitol, 
placed on her shoulders, which event 
took place at twelve o'clock. Mrs. 
President Lincoln was there in an 
open carriage, with nothing particu- 
lar to mark her from the occupants of 
the other carriages, but a pug nose 
and a rather severe expression. The 
crowd cheered immensely as the head 
of the statue reached its place. Can- 
non announced the fact to the fortifi- 
cations about Washington, which sa- 
luted her each in turn. I went in the 
Capitol to see the new bronze doors, 
which of course are fine, the cost be- 
ing thirty thousand dollars. Our din- 
ner hour being passed when I reached 
home, I took my little teapot to 
" Special Diet Kitchen " to make 
some tea; I found Mrs. Gray there, 
who very kindly gave me some toast, 
and I enjoyed it ever so much in her 
little back room. Dr. Stuart intro- 
[97] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

duced a Mr. Perley, who wished some 
music, thus opening a conversation 
about the present to be given to Dr. 
S' , proposing that I should re- 
ceive the money, both from our ward 
and his company, the President's 
bodyguard, which he represents. 

December 3, 1863. 

Finished letter for home. Clara 
O came for me to go to the Smith- 
sonian, which I enjoyed, though I re- 
turned chilled and tired. I talked 
with her about our hospital life, etc., 
in which she seems much interested 
and promises me something for 
Christmas for my soldiers from Yon- 
kers. Unfavorable news from our un- 
fortunate Army of the Potomac. 
There was a hospital concert in 
Ward C. 

December 4, 1863. 

One month since I came here, and 
it seems more like three. I framed 
pictures to decorate our plain brown 
paper walls and remained in my ward 
after dinner imtil three o'clock as No. 
[98] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

6 was out and many of our convales- 
cents feel the etf ect of the mild weath- 
er, or the change, and have taken to 
their beds with fever and severe head- 
ache. Conyers came in with such a 
headache that he could scarcely see. 
He came to our ^* Home," as I prom- 
ised him some homeopathy and co- 
logne to bathe his head. I arranged 
my dress and hurried to the ward, 
found that Johnny Hegeman, in whose 
care I had left the keys, had given out 
the medicine. He is really quite 
bright and useful. He enlisted under 
age, and was brought here very 
ill with fever before the regiment 
reached the front. Arranged my 
ward for the concert, which passed 
off splendidly. Borrowed Sister 
HilPs lamp and bouquet for the piano 
and was quite proud of its appear- 
ance. We had a feast of music, which 
I enjoyed with the soldiers to the ut- 
most. Mr. Martini, who played very 
sweet and spirited accompaniments 
on the piano; Mr. Parsons, whose 
voice is superb, so musical, and natu- 
[99] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

ral; Mr. AVhite and two others, whose 
names I forget, and Miss Kitty Ir- 
ving, so petite and pretty, played two 
pieces, altogether the most successful 
concert we have had yet. Mrs. Irving, 
Mrs. Dean, and White accompanied 
and the ward was crowded. There 
were no bad effects visible to-night. 

December 5, 1863. 

Fine weather! "Went to the House 
after dining, made my toilet for Sat- 
urday afternoon. Dr. Banister vac- 
cinated me when he came for Miss 
Griggs, as I was informed at break- 
fast that I had a case of " varioloid " 
in my ward ; gave Dr. S my opin- 
ion on the subject of his not telling 
me when he suspected it. Conyers 
came to the House, as I promised to 
read to him, he was feeling so miser- 
ably, and did so until five o'clock. Mr. 

E came in a moment to show me 

an amusing little contraband image 
some lady had made for him. After 

tea Johnny H insisted upon 

taking up the glass basket, Sister 
[100] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Gulie's offering, made of beads, and 
No. 6 suspended it, which proves 
quite ornamental. Miss Thomas came 
and sang in the evening, bringing a 
crowd again to the ward, attracted as 
much by her pretty face as the music. 
I omitted to mention Major General 
Hancock visited our hospital — a 
noble-looking man. 

December 6, 1863. 
Found my worst predictions veri- 
fied in poor " Kenser," whose head I 
had bathed, etc., and he with the other 
case, whom the surgeon had suspect- 
ed from the first, were sent to the 
" Kalorama Hospital." A sad day al- 
together. My suffering patient, 48, 
asked Dr. Bliss to examine his foot, 
which he consented to, after dinner, 
and finding the bone materially in- 
jured, amputated it. Conyers suffer- 
ing all day with such a neuralgic pain 
in his right temple and eye, was 
obliged to keep chloroform and opium 
on it and when evening came and I 
was sitting by him to keep him from 
feeling lonely and dispirited, thoughts 
[101] 



The Lady Xurse of Ward E 

of home came very sweet and its com- 
forts seemed very far off ; read aloud 
a chapter from Miss Alcott's '' Hos- 
pital Sketches," which seemed to en- 
tertain a number very much, particu- 
larly my sensible John, lying in the 
next bed to Conyers, who said he did 
not see where such an interesting 
book came from ; he had not been able 
to get such and would like to buy it. 
Retired quite early for me. 

December 7, 1863. 
In the mornmg the visit of the Rus- 
V sian Medical Staff was the all-impor- 
tant topic, except that Miss Grriggs 
and I agitated ourselves about being 
present at the opening of Congress, 
which I would have preferred, but 
knowing it would be doubtful about 
our getting through the crowd, and 
finding Conyers had passed a miser- 
able night without sleep, saying he 
thought I would never come in, put 
everything but ward duties out of my 
mind, until I had things in order for 
inspection, special orders written and 
[102] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 
signed, No. 48 attended to, and C— 



somewhat comforted, though I trem- 
ble to write, we all feared for him, 
the dreaded visitor, which has taken 
two of our number to the " Kalo- 
rama." At this moment Dr. Smith 
came in, saying Miss Okell and others 
were waiting at the door for me to ac- 
company them to Alexandria. I knew 
the sail and fresh air was just what I 
needed, and having arranged things 
to my satisfaction, I said yes, glad 
to run away from inspection, even 
though it brought the Eussians, and 
get the fresh breeze and relief for my 
anxiety. We took the boat at the 
wharf and a half hour's sail brought 

us to A . Walked to the " Wolfe 

E. W. Hospital," where were two 
friends of Dr. Smith, wounded and 
brought there last week — Colonel 
Higgins of the Eighty-sixth New 
York and the " fighting chaplain," as 
he is called, Mr. Barbour, from Troy, 
with a severe wound in his leg. He 
was so handsome and agreeable we 
were quite charmed ; asked us for our 
[103] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

autographs. From there to St. Paul's 
Church Hospital to see young Dr. 
Allen, formerly of Ward E, whom I 
promised to visit. Unfortunately he 
had just left, and we were obliged to 
hurry to the boat, which left at 1 p.m. 
Said " good-bye " and home messages 
to Miss , found Sisters South- 
wick and Griggs just returned from 
the Capitol, but were unable to get in 
for the crowd, so went to dinner to- 
gether, but as usual did not find much. 
Hurried to my ward with my little 
teapot of tea ; wrote letter for No. 48, 
informing his mother of the loss of 
his foot. Spent a sad, anxious after- 
noon by C 's bed, who was burn- 
ing with fever; read the most of the 
evening to him that he might sleep, 
and shall not soon forget it. When I 
reached the " Chateau," to add to my 
comfort, found that Miss Low had set- 
tled in her mind that C had the 

*' varioloid '^ and excited the ladies 
with the idea of my bringing it to 
them in my clothes, which seemed to 
me supremelv ridiculous, as Miss 
[10-1] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Piatt had sent one case from her own 
ward and they knew I had attended 
j)oor Kenser for days. I told them if 
he were not better by to-morrow I 
would request of Dr. Bliss a room in 
the hospital, so as to save them from 
contagion. I retired to my room in 
disgust, taking care to shut the door, 
where I had a talk with Sister South- 
wick, with whom I can always ex- 
change sentiments; wrote journal, in- 
dulged in a little home reverie to for- 
get everything about me and was glad 
to fall asleep, though obliged to put 
on my bed all the clothes I could find 
to make myself comfortable. 

December 8, 1863. 

Was delighted to find C out of 

bed and announced to the ladies at 
breakfast with pardonable satisfac- 
tion that he had recovered from the 
" smallpox " ; wrote letter to Carrie 
to send with " Hospital Sketches " by 

Miss . Dr. Smith called for 

them. After dinner — indisposed — 

went to bed, and for once was able to 

[105] 



The Lady l^urse of Ward E 

sleep, which I did until nearly dark. 
Spent the evening in my ward. 
Found Miss Felton, who went home a 
fortnight since to attend a wedding, 
at the " Home." 

December 9, 1863. 

Heartsick and anxious about No. 
48, who has had three chills, a bad 
symptom after amputation ; could not 
leave him while suffering, so could 
not go with Miss Piatt to see Mrs. Dr. 
Jenkins — a pleasanter evening than 
the last, though could have no music, 
fearing to disturb 48. Found Sister 

S in her room waiting for me, 

and the Bostonians in " Officer " 
Low's room, having a nice little time 
with some sardines and olives and 
gingerbread — their usual style. Sis- 
ter Griggs, who had been slighted 
also, came in and we had more fun 
over it than they did. I proposed rat- 
tling up our dishes for opposition, but 
afterwards concluded it would not be 
dignified for a " hospital sister." Ee- 
tired at midnight. 

[106] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

December 10, 1863. 

No. 48 passed the night without a 
chill, though he had a slight one this 
morning. Wrote from the ward mas- 
ter's book the names of my new pa- 
tients in mine. Eemained a while af- 
ter dinner and opened the piano to 
forget myself in practising. En- 
deavored to put a few stitches in 
some things long waiting for them. 
Mrs. Jackson came in, with her un- 
ceasing flow of conversation. C 

came in just before five bringing the 
corkscrew, according to promise, so 
opened the grape wine. Sister HilPs 
present, which, with Sister Griggs's 
oatmeal crackers, we pronounced 
" splendid." Sisters Piatt and Griggs 
joined us, and while we were endeav- 
oring to get some warmth from our 
cheerful (?) stovepipe, we heard 
Dr. Bliss's voice, bringing in some 
one to see the " Chateau." I arose 
to receive him and if he had looked 
toward the bottle of wine, etc., on 
the table, was ready to ask him 
to partake. Night was approaching, 
[107] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

and her dusky veil covered our lit- 
tle festive scene, but we were 
quite ready with our parting saluta- 
tions; went late to ni}^ supper, found 
Dr. Bliss had detained the ladies at 
the table, and was drilling them in 
" Eules and Orders/' Was delighted 
to find two letters from home, when I 
returned to my ward, which " Dan'l " 
had put in a book to save for me, de- 
voured them with a hungry spirit, 
which had been longing for something 
from the outer world. Indulged my- 
self in looking over the dear home 
faces. Mrs. Jackson and Lieutenant 
Jacob's sister came in for a few mo- 
ments, spent pleasant evening and 
promised to retire early, which after 
taking the rocking-chair by our pipe 
to warm before retiring I found 
rather difficult. 

December 11, 1863. 
In the evening went to Ward C to 

see Miss P and C , happy at 

their " musical soiree." Miss Griggs 

and Dr. Robbins and I formed a most 

appreciative part of the audience, 

[108] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

while reading an exceedingly interest- 
ing letter from Mrs. Ingersoll. The 
ladies were obliged to put on a variety 
of costumes for the night's rest, as we 
had no fire as yet, and my merino 
dressing gown over the other was just 
the thing. 

December 12, 1863. 

Dark and cloudy day. Wrote a line 
to the Chaplain of the Kalorama to 
hear from poor " Kenser." Spent the 
most of the day in the ward. Sister 
Southwick sent up her violinist to play 
for us, and I enjoyed it exceedingly 
without a crowd, sitting by my table 

writing to Sister G at the same 

time. 

December 13, 1863. 

Spent Sunday in my ward. Inspec- 
tion late, so had my Special Diet to 
make out after dinner; remained 
awhile wondering if there were any 
religious services, when Sisters Piatt 
and Griggs came in quite excited to 
know the reason why I was not present 
at the special meeting of the ladies at 
the " Chateau," where Dr. Bliss had 
[109] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

been talking to them for an hour; 
found that " No. 6 " had forgotten to 
give me the " Orderly's " message. 
Could not say I regretted it. Miss 
P insisted upon C and my- 
self coming to Ward C to attend the 
services, which we did. The Senator 
from Maine addressed the meeting, in 
V the absence of the chaplain. Mr. 

E , as of old, came in for a few 

moments by the door. Services also 
in Ward E, where Sister Griggs ac- 
companied the singing on our piano. 
Stumbled into a queer conversation ; 
went to church with my new friend 
and relieved my conscience. 

December 14, 1863. 
Spent the most of the day in my 
ward, " No. 6 " being out. Wrote let- 
ters. Quite a musical evening. The 
violinists and piano accompanying, 
tried to play myself, but was too nerv- 
ous, and couldn't see the notes, but 
succeeded in pleasing the musical 
Irishman. 

[110] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

December 15, 1863. 
Went to the Capitol for the first 
time since Congress met, and was, of 
course, exceedingly interested. Heard 
Senator Hale's indignant denial of the 
charge of political intrigue against the 
Senate and quite a spirited argument 
between the Senators from Maryland 
and Kentucky. Mrs. Senator Lane 
came to see me, with Mr. Lovejoy. 
Am delighted to find she will be here 
this winter. 

December 16, 1863. 
No. 6 absent unaccountably and 

C took his place. Chaplain of 

Kalorama came to tell us that the men 
we sent there were doing well; wrote 
letter for "48" to his mother; he is 
decidedly failing, and had quite a sat- 
isfactory conversation with him. Mrs. 
Sheldon came to sing in the evening, 
and though I felt like sitting quietly 
by myself, put, as usual, myself out of 
the way and was only the nurse. 



[Ill] 



The Lady Xurse of Ward E 

December 17, 1863. 
My anxiety in part was relieved l3y 
seeing " No. 6 " in the ward, whose 
report was more favorable than I an- 
ticipated. After dinner, which seemed 
quite homelike, was surprised to hear 

uncle J 's voice in our little parlor, 

and delighted to see some one who 
could give me home news in detail. 
Concert in Ward Ay which I could not 
attend. 

December 18, 1863. 
Packed a trunk to send by uncle 
J , who came to see me, after din- 
ner; went through the Smithsonian 
with him ; attended lecture there in the 
evening, delivered by Eev. Mr. Lord, 
on " Civilization," with Sisters Griggs 
and Southwick and the delightful Dr. 
Banister, whom, however, I was glad 
to leave to the other ladies to enter- 
tain, as I was too weary to talk. Ee- 
turned at nine to the " Chateau," 
where Miss Piatt gave a little social 
entertainment from which no one of 
the sisterhood was excluded — New 
York affability. Retired immediately, 
[112] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

glad for the hour for sleep. " No. 48 " 
failing, wrote another letter to his 
mother. A new patient, found in the 
streets, strayed from a hospital. 

December 19, 1863. 
Spent part of the morning at the 
home while the ward was being 
cleaned. Went to the market, but find- 
ing no decent bread or cake, went to 
the bakery in spite of the cold. Was 
intending to return Mrs. Lane's visit, 
but the curtains were ready to be cut 
and devoted the afternoon to them. 
" No. 6 " was out, so went to the house 
only for a few moments after giving 
out the medicine. In the evening a few 
of the men collected again and fin- 
ished the curtains by eight, when I 
gave out the little lunch I had pre- 
pared for them, and as " Wood " came 
from Ward A with an urgent invita- 
tion for me to hear the violinists who 
were entertaining them, went up, 
found Dr. Banister and Miss Piatt 
among the audience. Miss Griggs play- 
ing accompaniments, which she does 
[113] 



.\ 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

beautifully, and C and three oth- 
ers singing some new songs they had 
been practicing. The " Marseillaise " 
brought out Dr. Alcan, who sang it in 
French, much to our amusement, be- 
ing more of a recitation than singing. 
Eetired very late, which I regretted 
in the morning — weary, weary, weary ; 
forgot I had devoted myself to suffer- 
ing fellow-creatures, and was weak 
enough to long for a kind word for 
myself. 

December 20, 1S63. 

Felt miserahlij, so went to church; 

decidedly wintry. Dr. Banister came 

home with me; after dinner went to 

my ward for a short time, procured a 

special pass for C to witness the 

funeral ceremonies of Major-General 
Buford, then to the ^' Chateau " per- 
fectly tired out. Went to bed and 
slept until dark; stupid evening with 
nothing particular to do but fret my- 
self thinking of poor " 48 " whose 
hours are numbered. Ornamenting 
our ward, etc., etc., etc. 

[114] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

December 21, 1863. 
Was surprised by an early visit 

from " Dahle," though C told me 

he was one of the escort of the re- 
mains of Major-General Buford. Com- 
menced putting up curtains and prep- 
arations for Christmas and shall 
probably have no leisure until the day 
is over. '^ No. 48 " breathed his last 
about ten a.m., without a prayer or 
tear shed over him, though I know his 
poor mother will grieve when she 
hears the sad news. Made ivreatlis in 
the dining room after dinner and at- 
tended to Sister Southwick's comfort, 
who is quite ill. Ascertained that my 
poor starved man, found in the street, 
had a brother in the regiment now 
stationed here, procured a special 
"Pass," and sent a man after him, 
who soon returned with him and three 
others. Was agreeably surprised by 
a very convenient present from Sister 

S . The men did not feel like 

working at the wreaths, so postponed 

until the morrow. Was too weary to 

think of accompanying Sister G — — 

[115] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

and Dr. B to Mr. Lord's lecture 

No. 2. Had a good practice, played 
over my old songs. Mrs. Ripley, from 
Concord, Mass. (with whom I have 
quite fallen in love), came in, and we 
had, as of late, a pleasant little tete- 
a-tete — asked me to sing " The long, 
long weary day'' for her. Her hus- 
band died from fever contracted in 
the army, and she has come, hoping 
to soften her grief, by assisting in the 
work here. 

December 22, 1863. 
Made wreaths in dining room before 
dinner; ran away immediately after, 
to return Mrs. Lane's kind visit. Was 
delighted to receive a letter from Sis- 
ter Gulie before I went; walked up 
and down the Avenue, searching in 
vain for a decent place where I could 
get some oysters, but was obliged to 
return hungry. "No. 6" had hung 
the rest of the curtains, which relieved 
my mind of part of the weight resting 
on it. The evergreens were brought 
in the ward after supper. Dr. Stuart 
.came in to assist with his artistic taste 
[116] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

and we made quite a happy commence- 
ment, as well as numbered twenty-two 
wreaths. Eetired feeling weary only 
in body, refreshed in spirit. 

December 23, 1863. 

A pleasant day preparing for 
Christmas, as everything moved along 
very smoothly and am much pleased 
with the unique decorations of our 
ward which has received already so i^ 
many compliments it quite puts one 
in good humor. Made poultice for 

C 's wrist the last thing before 

coming home. 

December 24, 1863. 
Spent the entire day in my ward, 
busily trimming. Dr. Smith walked in 
just before dinner, invited me to take 
a drive, as the chaplain's horse needed 
exercise. Miss Jacobs accompanied 
us, and it was delightful. Saw the 
" Mountain Eangers " drilling their 
horses to leap a ditch, which amused 
us exceedingly. Made poultices for 
C , the sum total of my "nurs- 
ing " to-day, excepting the usual 
[117] 



The Lady Nnrse of Ward E 

round of duties. Received package 
of Evening Posts. Miss Piatt re- 
ceived her box from Yonkers, in which 
was one for me from Mrs. Edward 
Martin, which delighted me, both be- 
cause of the unexpected remembrance 
and of the pleasure of putting some 
nice, clean shirts under the pillows 
of my soldiers for Christmas. Mr. 
Ramsdell came in the evening with 
a friend; of course he was inter- 
ested and admired the decorations. 
I was called to the ward-master's 

room, where I found Dr. S with 

No. 6 et al. making a " Santa Claus " 
— a medical one— which is fine, and 
prophesies a " Merry Christmas " to- 
morrow. Am thankful there is only 
one poor man in the ward who cannot 
enjoy it; and it cannot even disturb 
him, though he has, in my eyes, 
thrown a dark shadow on the picture 
all day. I arranged some presents for 
laundresses and others, and then re- 
tired, late as usual. 



[118] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

December 25, 1863. 
I found my ward in the merriest 
mood, Dr. S having already per- 
petrated a nice joke on Mrs. Wilson, 
whom he asked to prepare a little 
milk toast for an old man who had 
" come in the night and could eat very 
little " ; she left her breakfast and 
prepared and took it in, and on in- 
quiry for him her attention was ^' 
directed to " Santa Claus," who is 
perched at the top of my post, with 
one leg over the beam, pack and hands 
filled, everything from the dispensary 
being purely medical, and the most 
complete thing of the kind I ever saw. 
The whole ward shouted with laugh- 
ter, and she, perforce, with toast in 
hand, was obliged to join in the gen- 
eral merriment. No. 48's brother, 
who had come for his brother's re- 
mains, came in to see me. I was quite 
astonished and charmed with his un- 
affected simplicity, which enabled him 
to converse and thank me with a sim- 
ple yet expressive brevity that was 
quite delightful. He said his mother 
[119] 



/ 



The Lady N.urse of Ward E 

wished him to come in and see me. 
Our ward was the center of attraction 
all day, and acknowledged by all — 
even by the " angel of Ward C " — to 
be the "banner ward" on this occa- 
sion. 

I went to the " Chateau " after 
breakfast to make my Christmas toi- 
let, and when I returned found a 
crowd (Mr. E among them) en- 
joying it immensely. The univer- 
sal opinion was that our ward was 
dressed the prettiest, independent of 
our comical visitor ; everyone admired 
J the light border of evergreens, the 
holly vines on the ventilators, and 
the Christmas trees hung with bayo- 
nets, pistols, etc. Mr. Lovejoy went 
through the wards taking notes, so I 
suppose we shall soon see ourselves 
in print. I regretted to hear that our 
chaplain, Mr. Jackson, with Colonel 
Millett and Chaplain Adams of the 
Fifth Maine, had paid us a visit and 
was saluted with the cry of " Hay ! " 
from all quarters, as he made such a 
fuss about their getting some of his 
[120] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

hay by mistake to fill our nierry pa- 
tron saint, and when he ventured a 
joke and asked Sergeant Eeed what 
they had given the old man for his 
breakfast, he answered him, " Hay," 
which he reported to the officer of the 
day, and Eeed was obliged to go in to 

Dr. Bliss; but Dr. S arranged 

things so, as he anticipated, he was al- 
lowed to go out for the first time and 
enjoy a Christmas dinner with some 
friends outside. The promised din- 
ner of one hundred turkeys, etc., for 
the soldiers from Maine, was detained 
on the other side of the Schuylkill 
Eiver, in consequence of the breaking 
of a bridge, with the rest of our 
Christmas boxes. I was delighted 
with a letter from Sister Gulie, in- 
forming me of the contents of my box, 
over which, good sister as she is, she 
had exerted herself to have it reach 
me to-day. At 6 p.m. we had religious 
services in " I." Chaplain Adams ad- 
dressed us in a most beautiful and 
feeling manner, but was unfortu- 
nately interrupted by the ravings of 
[121] 



The Lady ISTurse of Ward E 

a man who had been out making mer- 
ry. Sisters Piatt and Hill, with my- 
self and some of the soldiers, formed 
the choir until C came in and as- 
sisted with his tenor voice. Colonel 
Millett introduced me to the Eev. Mr. 
Adams, who was quite delightful, and 
Dr. Smith, who was also present with 

Colonel M , accompanied me to 

Ward E, which they said displayed 
the most beautiful taste of any they 
had seen. Walt Whitman and our 
French surgeon, Dr. Alcan, were most 

complimentary. Dr. S asked me 

for some music and entertained us 
with a few songs. C was suffer- 
ing from his wrist, and would not wait 
for them to leave, but made the poul- 
tice himself and went to " I " for his 
favorite diversion. Dr. Bobbins came 
in soon after they left and said I had 
better go with him to " H " and hear 
the music, so concluded to keep Christ- 
mas merry as long as possible. I 

found Sister S entertaining the 

gentlemen who had just left, and 
spent the rest of the evening there. 
[122] 



THE SHADOW AT CHRISTMAS 

{From " The Drum Beat") 

During our preparations for Christ- 
mas, decorating the wards with ever- 
greens, and making everything as 
bright as possible — for it is our duty 
to cheer and amuse the living as well 
as watch and attend to the sick and 
dying — there was one poor unfortu- 
nate boy, only eighteen, who, amid the 
unusual confusion and merriment, 
was to me, not yet quite callous to the 
sad contrasts we so often witness 
here, a strange shadow as he lay 
quietly, his life ebbing and flowing 
toward the great ocean of eternity. 
He had been found in the street, hav- 
ing, in a fit of delirium, strayed from 
his regiment, encamped in this vicin- 
ity. He had suffered from that fear- 
ful scourge, camp diarrhoea, for fif- 
teen months, and being also a victim 
to intemperance, which might have 
[123] 



The Lady ISurse of Ward E 

been occasioned by his disease and 
privation, he presented such a picture 
of emaciation as I have never seen, 
except in the representations of the 
Libby prisoners. And yet from his 
manner of speaking, I could see that 
he had known what it was to be ten- 
derly cared for, and, like the " prodi- 
gal son," penitent and sorrowing, was 
longing for that from which he had 
strayed. He held a small photograph 
of his mother firmly in one hand, as if 
that were all he had left to cherish. 
After two days he recovered a little 
strength, and, calling me to him, said, 
in a tearful, broken voice, " I wish my 
brother Benjamin was here, that I 
might put my two arms about his 
neck." I sent immediately to his regi- 
ment, and in a few hours his brother 
sat by his bedside, his full, rosy 
cheeks and bright eyes presenting a 
strong contrast to the wan face at 
which he gazed so sorrowfully, and 
from which suffering had so complete- 
ly driven away all trace of youth that, 
although younger, he looked ten years 
[124] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

his senior. He had been searching for 
him in street and hospital, and think- 
ing he must have j)erished through 
exhaustion, had written that morning 
to his mother that they would prob- 
ably never see him again. Like Ben- 
jamin of old, he was a great comfort, 
and when he left each day a hostage 
was demanded by his darling brother 
to insure his return — usually his 
pocket knife or comb — which he held 
in his hand to reassure him. At first 
his mind seemed laden with a heavy 
burden, and large tears would roll 
down his cheeks (or where they should 
have been). He told me he "was go- 
ing to die, and wished some one would 
get him ready." I comprehended his 
desire to have some one tell him 
where to look for pardon and a guid- 
ing hand to lead him through the 
"dark valley," and brought one who 
often visits our hospital, and whom I 
believe to be one of the few faithful 
ministers of God among the soldiers, 
to his bedside, after which I had the 
great satisfaction of hearing him ex- 
[125] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

press himself much comforted. On 
Christmas Day the shadows of life 
seemed closing about him, and I 
feared the darker shadow of death 
would come like a specter to our 
Christmas feast; but he lingered at 
the threshold until the Sabbath, and 
the evening hour came before he 
found rest in that dreamless slumber 
whose reveille is only heard beyond 
the grave. 

A. Akin 

Armory Square Hospital. 



[126] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

December 26, 1863. 

Spent part of the morning at the 
" Chateau " sweeping our room, medi- 
tating, etc. Was detained in the ward 
by a constant succession of visitors, 
some very agreeable ones. In the 
evening I entertained myself with my 
own music, then went to Ward C for 
a short time, as I promised Miss 

S to hear their new songs. When 

we returned Dr. S read to us his 

written report of the "Hay" affair, 
which is capital. 

No. 10, who is failing fast, though 
he has lived far beyond our expecta- 
tions, was suffering and detained me 
a little after " Taps," and when I 
reached the home found a note from 
the officer of the day (Dr. Stearns) 
respectfully inviting the ladies to at- 
tend a "contraband wedding" in 
their new barracks just in the* rear of 
our wards. All had retired but Sister 
S and Mrs. I , who was spend- 
ing the night here, so we all went to- 
gether. We found there Drs. Stearns, 
Horsey, and Smith, and Colonel Mil- 
[127] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

lett, Miss Jacobs, Mrs. Wilson and 
family, and were in time to witness 
the ceremony, which was truly amus- 
ing. The bride and four bridesmaids 
wore thin white dresses and wreaths ; 
one bridesmaid and groomsman car- 
ried a tall silver candlestick with 
candle. The bride shed tears very 
appropriately, but the bridesmaids 
giggled and one of their colored 
brethren, who had borrowed the chap- 
lain's prayer book to read the service, 
made some amusing mistakes. We 
shook hands with the happy couple 
and left them enjoying the supper, 
which was very fine, roast turkey, etc., 
downstairs, and on another table up- 
stairs three large frosted cakes, one 
ornamented very appropriately with 
an empty bird's nest. The supper oc- 
cupied so much time we could not wait 
to witness the dancing. Dr. Stearns 
escorted me back to the house and I 

left Sister S , who remained a 

while longer, hoping to see the 

dancing. I enjoyed the luxury of a 

pail of hot water, which with a lunch 

[128] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

(being ravenously hungry) kept me 
up unusually late. 

December 27, 1863. 

To-day was rainy, and I was again 

obliged to defer going to Dr. Pyne's 

church. Mr. Webb came in from the 

dispensary and wanted me to go and 

see Dr. S 's present, which had 

just arrived, and which is really very 
fine. I had a slice of the wedding 
cake, which I distributed in small 
pieces to some of the soldiers, much 
to their amusement. I found on going 
to dinner that Chaplain Adams was 
very much hurt by the ladies smiling 
during his remarks and was quite se- 
vere in his conversation with them 
when some of them went in to urge 
him to speak this afternoon, but at 
two o'clock he came in with the chap- 
lain, and in his kind, fatherly way said 
it was all forgotten now. I did not 
feel equal to hearing Chaplain Jack- 
son speak on religious subjects, 
though regretted to lose Mr. Adams's 
remarks, and being quite exhausted 
went to bed, and slept well, which 
[129] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

was what I needed most just then. I 
found the brother of the poor man 
from Kuseville by his bedside, as I 
sent the ward master for him, feeling 
assured that he was dying ; but he did 
not breathe his last until seven in the 
evening. Wrote in my journal until 
nearly nine, as I did not feel like join- 
ing in the singing, and went to the 
house early, when Sister Piatt told me 
the result of her interview with Dr. 
Bliss, which quite pleased me, though 
remembered it would be my turn next. 
Mrs. Gray retires from her position in 
the " Special Diet Kitchen " to-mor- 
row. Her departure means a great 
loss to the hospital. 

December 28, 1863. 
It is still raining. I spent the morn- 
ing in the ward endeavoring to relieve 
and comfort my poor consumptive pa- 
tient, who is the only particular one 
to care for now. There was never so 
little to do in the ward since I first 
came here, McDonald being the only 
one confined to his bed. I practiced 
[130] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

a little, spent the afternoon at the 
house, and when I returned to the 
ward was greeted with the good news 
that my box had arrived. No. 6 had 
found it at the commissary's office and 
brought it in. After supper he 
wheeled it down, took off the top and 
brought it in, with his usual good 
sense and judgment, and a happy 
evening I have spent unpacking and 
lunching with my friends. Sisters 
Griggs and Southwick, and Dr. Banis- 
ter, who came in to escort us to the 
lecture (which was postponed). Then 

I sent an invitation to C and No. 

6, and lastly to Sisters Piatt and Hill. 
My heart is overflowing with love and 
thanks to my good Sister Grulie, and 
indeed to all my sisters and friends 
who have so kindly interested them- 
selves, and to-morrow I must write 
to them again. 

December 29, 1863. 

Beautiful weather. I spent the 

morning disposing of the contents of 

my delightful box and concluded to 

defer my tea party until to-morrow, 

[131] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

having a headache. I went to Ward 
A to practice my duet with Sister 
Griggs, and before we finished, the 

y Glee Club, with C at the head, 

came in and sang some new songs, 
which I enjoyed exceedingly, particu- 
larly the alto. 

December 30, 1863. 
Prepared for my entertainment, 
and put up my curtains, with the pink 
plaiting, which look fine. Took down 
my bed, made a lounge of the other, 
added a small table to the one 
from the parlor, and with Sister 

S 's red table cloth, Carrie's 

frosted cake, Hattie's Santa Claus to 
preside, and all my nice eatables, the 
table looked quite to my satisfaction. 
My guests, seven in number, seemed 
to enjoy it vastly. Colonel Millett was 
my vis-a-vis^ the others were Dr. Stu- 
art with Sisters Griggs and Hill on 
either side and Sergeant Keed and 
Miss Piatt. Miss Marsh, not being 
well, declined sitting down. The hot 
soda biscuits which Mrs. Jackson so 
kindly furnished were a mystery, in 
[132] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

fact the ladies wondered how I could 
think of attempting such a thing as a 
tea company, but kindly pronounced 
it a " splendid success." Finding so 
much left, I arranged the table again, 
and sent for some of my soldiers to 
enjoy the feast also, which gave me 
the most pleasure. Dr. Banister came 
in to accompany the ladies to the lec- 
ture, which I was obliged to relin- 
quish, and took a cup of coffee. 
Colonel Millett remained through the 
evening. After " Taps " the other 
ladies came in, and having kept the 
coffee and tea hot over our alcohol 
lamps, I invited them to partake of 
some. Misses Low and Felton, who 
could not sufficiently express their as- 
tonishment at my " getting up," en- 
joyed the pickles and dried beef, and 
after we had finished insisted upon 
helping me " wash up," which we did 
in great glee. Sister Hill did not 
leave until my bed was returned again 
to its proper place, for which I was 
thankful, being heartily tired, so much 
so that I could not go to sleep. 
[133] 



The Lady Nyrse of Ward E 

December 31, 1863. 
Took luncheon at the house again 

from my " box " with Sister S , 

who was prevented from being with 
us last evening by one of her severe 
headaches. I returned dishes, etc., to 
Mrs. Jackson. 

January 1, 1864. 
I arose late to-day (a bad begin- 
ning for the new year), attended to a 
few patients in my ward, made some 
New Year presents of Fannie's hand- 
kerchiefs (which I had marked), and 
sent a present through the post office. 
Sisters Southwick and Griggs and 
myself were escorted by Dr. Banister 
to call upon the President. We were 
obliged to stand with the democratic 
crowd outside the gate until the dig- 
nitaries passed out, and were aggra- 
vated by a sight of their Napoleonic 
chapeaus, plumes, and gilded collars; 
then followed the army and navy offi- 
cers on foot, the crowd meanwhile be- 
ing permitted to press in. We suc- 
ceeded in reaching the President's ex- 
tended hand in safety, though at some 
[134] 




ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

(1863) 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

risk, and were gratified with a view of 
Mrs. Lincoln in full '' toilette," whom 
we thought exceedingly commonplace. 
We admired the blue room much, en- 
joyed the music, and were quite satis- 
fied that we had paid our respects to 
the President on New Year Day. 

Met Dr. Smith and Sister S 's 

friend. The young and amiable Chap- 
lain Hopkins with his sister was 
there. On our return found no dinner 

awaiting us, so invited Dr. B to 

the " Chateau," and with Sister 
Grigg's box and my own, we were 
quite independent, but to our amuse- 
ment, as well as their own, were inter- 
rupted by New Year visitors, the gen- 
eral ward master. Dr. Munger, and 
two of the hospital stewards. Dr. 
Smith and Colonel Millett called after 
I had left for the ward to take some 
tea and crackers to my poor consump- 
tive patient, but took the trouble to 
come there and pay me a formal visit. 
There was singing in Ward C by some 
professors, acquaintances of Dr. Bliss, 

so the latter, with Mrs. B , Misses 

[135] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Lowell, Felton, and others were pres- 
ent. With a few exceptions, the sing- 
ing was rather stilted, and our choir 
could have entertained better. To- 
day the weather is extremely cold — 
quite a contrast to the delightful 
Christmas weather. 

January 2, 1864. 
I spent the morning in my ward, 
being anxious about my poor patient 
in bed No. 16, who suffers so much 
and is so patient and gentle. I can- 
not stay by him, and debated with my- 
self whether I should sit by him or go 

to the home for a while. C said 

he would go down for his mince pie, 
so I concluded on the latter, and with 
Sister Southwick we spent an hour 
very pleasantly, but on returning to 
my ward was shocked and grieved to 
find the poor, suffering spirit I left 
there had passed away with scarcely 
a moment's warning. I refused to at- 
tend Mr. Lord's lecture, and went to 
the chaplain immediately after sup- 
per to see about sending a telegram 
to his brother in New York. I found 
[136] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Dr. Smith, with the rest of the fam- 
ily, seated about the table, and the 

doctor and Colonel M very busily 

at work on the pretty frames made 
from cigar boxes. I then wrote a let- 
ter to his mother, which finished the 
evening. 

January 3, 1864. 
I intended to go to church, but it 
was so cold and found so much to de- 
tain me in my ward — C 's wrist 

requiring more poulticing, and a new 
patient with a frightful-looking felon, 
and no attendant present for No. 4 
(whose place No. 6 and I took pro 
temps). I rushed to the home after 
dinner for a few moments, and back 
again as the services were to be held 
only in " E " and " K." A very inter- 
esting gentleman, just returned from 
a tour through the Holy Land, spoke 
to us from Job, and the men seemed 
more interested than usual ; but to our 
astonishment, as well as disgust, the 
chaplain remarked, before commenc- 
ing the services in " K," that they had 
been very much annoved by loud talk- 
[137] 



The Lady l^urse of Ward E 

ing in the other ward, which of course 
aroused our indignation, and immedi- 
ately after the services were conclud- 
ed I went to him (although C was 

before me), and as publicly as pos- 
sible asked an explanation, giving him 
at the same time our opinion that it 
was one of the most quiet and inter- 
esting services we had had in a long 
time. While delivering my lecture I 
was amused to see Mr. Lovejoy stand- 
ing nearby enjoying it. There was ap- 
propriate music in Ward D in the 
evening, so went in for a short time, 
having promised sweet Mrs. Ripley to 
do so. Then I wrote letters for the 
dear ones at home, which I feel must 
go to-morrow. 

January 4, 1864. 
This day I shall long remember. 
Poor Mason's brother came in the 
night train as soon as he received 
the telegram, and he will take his 
body to New York this evening. Quite 
a heavy snowstorm is in progress. 



[138] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

January 5, 1864. 
Spent the morning in my ward, 
anxious ahout Sergeant Eeed, who has 
not been well since New Year Day. I 
felt miserable myself, but wrote for 
an hour after dinner, when I was 
obliged to go to our *' home " ; made 
a hot Sangaree, which I took and then 
went to bed, and when night came 
found I had too much fever to go out 
in the snow again, so made some tea 
and took it alone. Sister S com- 
ing in to finish with me. Dr. B 

and some of the ladies went to the 
Smithsonian, but as the lecture was 
postponed, he returned and spent the 

evening with me. Miss P and I 

read aloud from Buchanan Bead's new 
poem, '' The Wagoner of the Alle- 
ghanies." Misses Lowell and Felton 
dressed for an evening entertainment 
at Secretary Chase's, for the scientific 
professors now gathered here; Pro- 
fessor Agassiz came with them, which 
made my evening quite lively and in- 
teresting, though I rolled myself in 
my cloak and pillowed my head. 
[139] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

January 6, 1864. 

Spent the day at the " Chateau," 
bemg quite ill. Sent a note to our 
surgeon in charge pro temps about 
the deluge. Received a letter from 
home, with sad news of dear Hattie's 

severe illness. C came down to 

inquire after my health and reported 
the condition of the ward, etc. After 
tea went to the ward a few moments, 
and to Ward F to hear the gentle- 
man (Dr. Diehl, our consul to Java), 
who siDoke to us on Sunday, tell of his 
travels in the Holy Land. He is ex- 
ceedingly interesting. The Boston 
trio came in at *' Taps '' from the 
scientific tea party in the '' Special 
Diet Kitchen," and bringing some tea 
and coffee, we partook of some before 
retiring. 

January 1, 1864. 

I awoke early with the sound of 
falling waters still in our ears and 
found we had no fire and that Uncle 
Ben was unable to get to the furnace 
in consequence of the flooding. I 
succeeded in keepins: myself from per- 
[140] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

ishing by the alcohol lamp, over which 
(for my breakfast) I made a cup of 
tea, to drink with my cold toast 
spread with jelly, and heated water to 
put in a bottle, with which I warmed 
my benumbed fingers. I managed to 
get dressed by ten. I had the pleas- 
ure of meeting Mr. Lord, our fine 
Smithsonian lecturer, before I left the 
house, and after the contrabands had 
baled us out and our fire was started. 
Called at the chaplain's to return 
some dishes and inquire after the in- 
valids. It is decided the Colonel has 
not the smallpox. Went to my ward, 
found " Reed " better, read to him the 
first number of our Hospital Gazette, 
of which Mrs. Ingersoll is editor, and 
which is printed by two patients. 
Two new patients from Company K 
arrived. Our interesting lecturer 
again came to Ward F and enter- 
tained us for an hour delightfully. 
Dr. Bobbins called at the " Chateau " 
after " Taps " and spent an hour. 



[141] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

January 8, 1864. 
More snow fell, which did not im- 
prove our walking. Wrote letter to 
Clara Okell. No letter from home yet, 
and I pray our dear little Hattie may 
be recovering. Remained in my ward 
until late in the afternoon as No. 6 
went out. Went to Dr. Bliss's office to 
get an order for cranberries signed, 
as I was fully determined to try that 
poultice for No. 17. Spent evening 
in Ward C, where the " Glee Club " 
entertained us with music, and Miss 
Piatt's friend, Miss Torrey of New 
York, came over from Professor 
Henry's at the Smithsonian, where 
she is staying. 

January 9, 1864. 
Spent the morning in the ward 
and after at the house. Shared 

Sister G 's indignation about the 

punch order and enjoyed the finale. 
Miss Thomas came and sang while I 
was absent. Our lecturer came again 
in the evening for the third time. I 
did not enjoy his lengthened remarks 
[142] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

about women, and being chilled and 
tired left before he finished. Sister 

G gave ns some " Noyeau " and I 

produced some cake, which soon 
brought us to a more delightful state, 
and inclined me to retire early. 

January 10, 1864. 
Found No. 17 had been suffering se- 
verely, seemingly from erysipelas in 
his wound, the same as Sergeant Reed 
and McDonald, which is strange. No. 
49 not any better. Did not leave my 
ward until dinner hour. Inspection is 
losing some of its disagreeable fea- 
tures, as we are always marked " per- 
fect." Dr. Bliss was pleased to pause 
and admire the picture from home 
which is now on my table. Took coffee 
and cake at the " Chateau" after din- 
ner. Attended service in Ward F, 
and was charmed by the remarks of 
the Rev. Mr. Ecclestone, from New- 
ark, N. J., but was disgusted by our 
chaplain's inviting Senator " Jim " 
Lane from Kansas to speak again (as 
he had already once done so in " D ") 
[143] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

on the slavery question, as I wished so 
much the impressive remarks of the 
former might long remain in the mem- 
ories of the soldiers; and as I think 
Sunday is no fitting day for the dis- 
cussion of that question by such an 
unprincipled man as he is supposed to 
be, I made my escape as soon as pos- 
sible. After supper I read to Leech 
(No. 17) from Hood to divert his 
mind, until it was time to go to 
church. Accompanied Sisters Hill, 
Piatt, Marsh, and Southwick to Dr. 
Sunderland's, who preached the fu- 
neral sermon of Elisha Whittlesy, who 
married a Miss Mygatt, of New Mil- 
ford, Conn., and dead nearly a year 
since. It was a fine sermon. Mr. 
Eobbins and family were there, and 
father and son insisted upon escorting 
us home. 

January 11, 1864. 

No. 49 is improving; the others are 

about the same. I left them in No. 

6's care, and accompanied Sisters 

Griggs and Southwick to the Capitol, 

[lUJ 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

as we heard the Rev. Mr. Ecclestone 
would open the Senate proceedings. 
Eeceived a long letter from Sister 
Mary saying Hattie was better, so 
with a grateful heart was ready to en- 
joy almost anything. For some un- 
known reason Dr. Sunderland made 
the opening prayer instead of Mr. 

E , and we were interested in the 

remarks about Garrett Davis's expul- 
sion from the Senate, despite the fact 
that the resolution was laid over, and 
after the announcement of the death 
of one of the senators from West Vir- 
ginia and eulogies spoken, the Senate 
adjourned. Met Dr. Eobbins and Mrs. 
Senator Lane of Indiana on our way 
to the House. I introduced myself to 
her, thus saving the time for calling 
at the hotel, and found her very cor- 
dial and pleasant as I remembered 
her, though time had marked some 
lines on her face. Remained but a 
short time in the House as it was pre- 
paring to adjourn also, and ive 

" Began to feel, as well we might, 
The keen demands of appetite.'* 

[145] 



.The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Sister G left us at 4J Street to 

dine with a friend, and when Dr. 

R left us at Seventh Street Sister 

S and I went in search of oysters, 

but failed to find any, so contented 
ourselves with fresh rolls, which we 
brought home and with the other good 
things we had in our room and a cup 
of coffee, made quite a dinner. As I 
was utterly worn out I was obliged to 
take a rest. Our lecturer came for the 
fourth time in Ward D ; as No. 6 was 
going out and my head still weary, I 
did not care to have it in " E." In- 
stead of going to the lecture for which 
I had no heart I wrote a note to Mrs. 
Martin, to acknowledge her kind re- 
membrance of me. Miss Chapin, a 
friend of Sister G (both accom- 
plished and beautiful), came to pass 
the night with her. The former fail- 
ing to find a place here, as she was 
promised, is on the staff of a hospital 

in Baltimore, of which Dr. B 's 

brother is the head. Some ladies and 

gentlemen had called on Miss Piatt 

and myself, and found the card of 

[146] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Mrs. Cleveland of Yonkers. Miss 
Felton is having a grand time with 
the professors, and in company with 
Professor Agassiz she has the en- 
tree to all the entertainments given 
to them, which is the last thing on the 
carpet of society at present. To-day 
Miss Felton went with a large party 
to Arlington, General Eobert E. Lee's 
old home. 

January 12, 1864. 

My patients are all improving ex- 
cepting Sergeant Reed, who is still 
suffering from chills. I was aston- 
ished to see No. 23 of last summer, 
just returned from his long furlough, 
looking so well. Father Duffy, for- 
merly our old attendant, surprised us, 
too, with a call which was highly amus- 
ing, saying, as he grasped my hand, 
" Bless me, how glad I am to see 
you ! " and for ten minutes (which 
seemed much longer) overwhelmed 
me with his Irish blarney and volubil- 
ity ; then he insisted upon my playing 
the " Irish Washerwoman " for him. 

As No. 6 went out, C took his 

[147] 



The Lady ^'^urse of Ward E 

place, but I had only reached our 
" Home " when he came to bring me a 
dear, good letter from Sister Carrie. 
In the evening, after attending to my 
patients, I went to the Smithsonian 
with Sister Griggs, whose society I 
enjoy vastly, to hear one of Professor 
y Agassiz's scientific lectures on " The 

Glaciers.'' Our soldiers had the priv- 
ilege of a pass from the officer of the 
day to attend it also. 

January 13, 1864. 
Found my patients improving, so 
concluded to go again to the Senate 
v/ chamber and hear the great debate 

about the expulsion of Garrett Davis, 
and we sat there from twelve to past 
four. Davis spoke three hours and 
poured out his vials of wrath and tor- 
rent of abuse on Senator Wilson of 
Massachusetts, who offered the reso- 
lution to expel him, which at first was 
at least entertaining, but at the last 
became so spiteful and disgusting. 
Senator Wilson replied in a half 
hour's speech, and although a man of 
quite ordinary talent, he was too evi- 
[148] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

dently on the right side to admit of 
but one opinion. The debate will be 
continued and I hope will end in 
Davis's expulsion, not only for pro- 
posing to have the people take the af- 
fairs of government in their own 
hands and change the administration, 
but because, from his irascible nature 
and uncontrolled passions, he is not 
fitted for a seat in our Senate. I was 
glad to go to supper, having had no 
dinner. Wrote a long letter home in 
the evening, although weary and worn 
out. 

January 14, 1864. 
The Christmas dinner has at last 
arrived, and the " turkey-birdies," 
which have given occasion for so 
much talk and rhyme, have been 
properly taken care of. Mrs. Hanni- 
bal Hamlin (to honor the gift, being 
from Maine) came through the hospi- 
tal at dinner time. Mrs. Ingersoll in- 
troduced her to me, and her husband's 
daughter, a sweet-looking young lady. 
She was very pleasant and affable. In 
the evening Vice President Hamlin, 
[149] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

with others, came to Ward K, and 
made short speeches. ^' America '' 
was sung by our '' Glee Club." 

January 15, 1864. 

To-day was cloudy and, the walking 
bad. Spent most of the day in the 
ward. Succeeded in writing a note of 
thanks to cousin Lydia Thome, who 
so kindly contributed to my box. Yes- 
terday being pay day, many of the 
men went out to-day, and thinking the 
others seemed lonely, invited the sol- 
dier violinist to come and play for us. 
Practiced and wrote in the evening, 
took a box of guava jelly to the youth- 
ful-looking Philadelphian in "D," 

Mrs. Eipley's ward. 

January 16, 1864. 

Went with Miss Griggs and Corporal 
Hartshorne, who is transferred from 
Ward C to be her ward master, to 
hear Anna Dickinson's address in the 
House of Eepresentatives, and re- 
turned proud that such talent should 
have been given to a woman. Her de- 
livery is wonderful, and seems more 
the effect of inspiration than the pow- 
[150] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

er of intellect. Her "Words of an 
Hour" were on the theme in which 
our hearts are now most deeply in- 
terested, " The War." Her graphic 
pictures could not fail to bring unbid- 
den tears to the eyes of many of her 
attentive listeners, and her final ap- 
peal to the patriotism of the young 
men was supremely eloquent; even a 
synopsis of her lecture would fail of 
conveying the power of her thrilling 
language or the effect of her fine in- 
tonation. Dr. Bobbins came in with 
Miss Marsh, having been her escort, 
and we were quite lively with our en- 
thusiastic descriptions to Miss Piatt, 
interspersed with a slight skirmish 
with Mrs. Ingersoll about the *^ Wom- 
an's Rights " question, which quite de- 
lighted Mrs. R and Misses F 

and L . Sister G treated us 

in her room to a glass of " Noyeau " 
to revive our exhausted powers, which 
I hoped would bring inamediate sleep. 



[151] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

January 17, 1864. 
Spent the morning in the ward, but 
could not oblige myself to remain 
after dinner. Had a " rollicking " 
conversation with Misses Low, Hill, 
and Felton about the former's pet cat, 
which we proposed poor " Uncle 
Ben " should hang the next morning, 
and finished the evening by writing an 
amusing account of the religious (!) 
services in Ward B, to be submitted 
to Dr. Bliss for the Hospital Gazette, 
and taking a cujd of tea Avith Misses 
Low and Felton, sitting on the floor in 
their room. Eetired late of course. 

' {For the Hospital Gazette.) 

Religious (I) services were con- 
ducted in some of the wards very 
much as usual. The speaker in Ward 
" B '' being some one interested in 
the Ohio Relief Society, whether cit- 
izen or layman we cannot report, he 
informed us that he was satisfied the 
agents had failed in doing their duty 
and the Ohio soldiers had been neg- 
lected by them, when he took his seat 
[152] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

much to the satisfaction of his audi- 
ence. Our chaplain (Mr. Jackson, 
from Maine) then arose and said he 
had been interested in the remarks of 
this good man from Ohio, who repre- 
sented the church and bar of the 
northern part of Ohio, and he had had 
occasion to observe that the Ohio men 
had been neglected by the Eepresenta- 
tives of that State, and that things 
sometimes went astray; but it was 
consoling to know that though the 
things intended for the soldiers did 
not reach them, their families were 
visited and cared for by the people at 
home, for which they ought to be very 
grateful, and the goodness of God 
leadeth to repentance, after which 
came the benediction. 

January 18, 1864. 
To-day was a rainy day. The ward 

was unusually quiet. C has left 

to be captain of the laundry. Natze 
has passed his last examination for 
discharge, and his bewhiskered face 
will not much longer present an even- 
[153] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

ing picture to arrest the attention of 
the ladies passing through. Sergeant 
Eeed's brother and sister have arrived 
and hope to take him home with them. 
Two old patients from furlough have 
returned. Another canary bird (which 
proves to be a singer) graces the op- 
posite window, a present from one of 
the men to Dr. Stuart's ward, which 
we name " Tommy." 

January 19, 1864. 
Mrs. Abby Gibbons, the philanthro- 
pist, visited our hospital in company 
with others, and had the pleasure of 
a few moments' conversation with 
her, and also with the Rev. Mr. 
Storrs, of Brooklyn, who was brought 
to my ward by Dr. Smith, and, as I 
always supposed, is charming in con- 
versation. He asked me to furnish 
him with some of the many inter- 
esting incidents of our hospital life 
for a paper which he intends to 
publish during the sanitary fair. I 
gave him my sister's address in 
Brooklyn. After dinner, feeling alto- 
gether weak and miserable, I went out 
[154] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

for fresh air and to find a piano tuner. 
Called at the Sanitary Commission on 
Dr. Jenkins, of Yonkers, who is in 
town, but did not find him. I then 
went with a party from the hospital to 
hear Mr. Gough lecture on " Temper- 
ance," and was glad to see that the 
crowd was immense and exceedingly 
interested and impressed. Made cup 

of tea, and Sister G furnished us 

with some nice cake. 

January 20, 1864. 

A new patient with face swollen 
frightfully with erysipelas arrived. 
Copied the names of those who con- 
tributed to Dr. Stuart^s present. Had 
a very satisfactory conversation with 
Dr. Babcock, the New York medical 
agent. Arranged the ward for the 
evening and wrote invitations to Dr. 
Bliss and others to be present at the 
presentation to Dr. Stuart. Our ward 
was filled at 7 p.m. and everything but 
the last speech from one of the Eep- 
resentatives was as it should be, and 
as our friends are pleased to say, a 
" success." The band of music was 
[155] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

fine, and as soon as C brought in 

Dr. S played the opening piece; 

then Mr. Perley, of Erie (Dr. Stuarf s 
home) made the presentation speech, 
while I brought out the box of valu- 
able instruments from my medicine 
chest at the proper moment. Dr. 
S commenced his reply very feel- 
ingly and fittingly, but modesty and 
nervousness prevented him from fin- 
ishing ; then we had " Eally Eound the 
Flag, Boys," from our " Glee Club,'' 
and an excellent speech from Dr. 
Bliss, music from the band, speeches 
from Hon. Judge Schofield, of Erie, 
Pa., and Hon. Amos Meyers, and 
music until " Taps." The ward was 
crowded, surgeons and all honoring us 
with their presence. Misses Low and 
Felton entertained us at the " Cha- 
teau," where we found Dr. Stearns 
also, with tea and cake, which, with 
the excitement of the evening, kept me 
awake half of the night. 



[156] 



i 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

January 21, 1864. 

I was delighted to have the oppor- 
tunity of driving and of breathing the 
fresh air and accepted instantly Miss 
Piatt's invitation to make one of a 
party to Fort Corcoran, with Sisters 
Griggs and Southwick and Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Millett. We found the 
house which Colonel Tannatt made his 
headquarters burned, and nothing but 
a pile of bricks left to tell the sad 
tale; and at Colonel Whistler's they 
were afflicted with varioloid, so pro- 
ceeded to Fort Cass, where we made 
a pleasant call on Mrs. Tannatt, and 
thence to the Arlington House, which 
I had so long desired. I was of course 
exceedingly interested, and brought 
away some ivy and rose buds, as the 
shrubs were in leaf, as relics ; we were 
forbidden access to the " attic." We 
took our lunch in the ambulance, a 

part of which Miss G and I could 

not resist sharing with some soldiers, 
who were resting by the wayside. We 
reached home by three, and noticed 
that all the public buildings were 
[157] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

draped with black to honor the mem- 
ory of the senator from Virginia. 

January 22, 1864.. 

Sergeant Eeed left for home with 
his brother and sister, and to my great 
surprise McDonald received a trans- 
fer to General Hospital, Boston, and 
was taken away at a few hours' no- 
tice, his bed put on a stretcher and in 
an ambulance which took him to the 
train; the latter had a hospital car, 
fitted for the accommodation of such 
patients. Fearing the ward would 
feel melancholy over the loss of two 
who had been so conspicuous, I in- 
vited Misses Griggs and Piatt and the 
" Glee Club," and we had quite a mu- 
sical and pleasant evening, commenc- 
ing with our duet. When we had fin- 
ished I went to Ward H, where some 
of the men were trying to dance, the 
music of the violin being irresistible. 
Wrote a letter to Jobes. We are hav- 
ing beautiful spring weather. 



[158] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

January 23, 1864. 
As it is a splendid day I insisted 
upon having our ward thoroughly 
cleaned, beds taken out and aired, etc. 
I invited two of my old wounded pa- 
tients to our " home," fearing they 
might take cold, and entertained them 
for an hour or two. Mrs. Senator 
Lane and two young ladies called and 
they were extremely pleasant and so- 
ciable. They invited me to accompany 
them to one of Speaker Colfax's re- 
ceptions next Friday evening. " Nour- 
linger," another of last summer's pa- 
tients, left to-day on furlough. Miss 
Francis (niece of Lydia Maria Child) 
arrived last night to take Miss Fel- 
ton's place, who leaves on Monday. 
Enjoyed a good practice in my own 
ward and some good music in Ward 
!A. Sister Griggs and a friend who 
brought in his flute gave us some very 
nice duets. 

January 24, 1864. 

Being a fine spring day to-day. Sis- 
ter Griggs and I took advantage of it 
and went to Dr. Pyne's church. I was 
[159] 



The Lady Xurse of Ward E 

quite interested in the venerable struc- 
ture, etc., but returned very much fa- 
tigued, the walk being over two miles, 
and having partaken of a very light 
breakfast indulged myself in a re- 
freshing sleep after dinner, finding 
myself sufficiently exhausted in body 
to be able to do so, though regretted to 
lose Dr. Sunderland's address, who 
was invited to assist in our religious 
services to-day. Wrote a letter to Sis- 
ter Cornelia. Went to Ward I with 
Miss Piatt, as the " Glee Club " were 
expected to sing, it being Miss Fel- 
ton's last evening here, where we 
found Professor Henry and lady; but 
they sang only a short time, being in- 
vited to sing in the Baptist church by 
Mrs. Green, who assists us so often 
with her alto. At " Taps " we gath- 
ered in the parlor of our " Chateau " 
in honor of Miss Fel ton's departure. 
Partook of coffee, cake, etc., and made 
as much noise as ten ladies could con- 
veniently without any tin pans or 
broomsticks. Valedictory speeches 
abounded, and having found that one 
[160] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

had retired quietly, declining to be 
present, she was immediately brought 
before the appreciative audience as- 
sembled in the broad hall, in a very 
compulsory manner, after which we 
retired, quite satisfied by the fact that 
^' there is no Sunday in the Army." 

After retiring I improvised for the 
amusement of the other ladies who 
were disrobing, 

A DIRECTORY FOR THE "LADIES' 
CHATEAU" 

Sisters Southwick and Akin 

Have Room No. 1, 
Who keep smoked beef and pickles 

And plenty of fun. 

In Room No. 2 

Are olives and figs, 
Beside the fair inmates — 

Sister Piatt and our Griggs. 

In Room No. 3 

You will find if you please, 
Our dear Sister Hill 

And her wonderful "sneeze." 

With her, Sister Marsh 

Is obliged to abide, 
Who complains that the talking 

Is all on her side. 

[161] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Next, sweet Mrs. Ripley, 

With ''Bangor" to boot, 
Which means though so quiet 

Some things do not suit. 

On the opposite side 

You'll find Felton & Co.; 
And if not tea-drinking 

Don't blame Sister Low. 

And last, though not least. 
In the "Home of the Nurses, 

Misses Lowell and Francis — 
So here end my verses. 

Made a copy of the verses for me- 
mento of Sister Felton's last evening, 
and gave them to her inscribed, for 

Our dear Sister Felton, 

So good and so wise, 
Yet withal is so gleeful. 

She laughs with both eyes. 

January 25, 1864. 

An agreeable visitor in the even- 
ing, with whom I had not enjoyed a 
conversation in a long time, and felt 
much better for it; left my ward at 
eight, as he wished to accompany 
me to our " Chateau," and we finished 
our talk before the cheerful stove 
pipe. Colonel Wysewell, who had 
[162] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

charge of the invalid corps here, also 
made me a short call immediately 
after supper. 

January 26, 1864. 
Our splendid weather continues; 
spent the morning preparing for in- 
spection by the Surgeon Greneral, who 
passed through with Dr. Bliss and 
others about twelve, with one hurried 
glance, while I was resting quite wea- 
ried out. At sunset put on a bonnet 

and went to call on Colonel W , 

who sustains my good opinion, and 
who promised to use his influence for 
something better than that for which 
I asked, which so delighted me that I 
was obliged to walk through Smith- 
sonian grounds to allow the exuber- 
ance of spirits to subside. C 

came in the evening, and when I told 
him of it he could scarcely credit it. 
Mr. Eamsdell made quite a visit and 
interrupted my letter writing, so was 
obliged to keep very late hours, to 
finish my talk to Sister Gulie, as I was 
determined the letter should not be 
delayed. 

[163] 



The Lady ^^urse of Ward E 

January 27, 1864. 

This was a fine morning. I went 

with C to Colonel W 's office 

and waited a half-hour before he came 
in ; then in his usual pleasant way he 
gave him directions how to proceed, 
though the desired haven seemed more 
distant than we wished. Walked 
home and rested a while in our little 
parlor. 

January 28, 1864. 

The fine weather tempted me out of 
doors again, although my head was a 
little troublesome. Accompanied Sis- 
ters Southwick and Griggs and Dr. 
Banister to the Capitol, where we 
found the Senate again discussing Mr. 
Wilson's resolution about Garrett Da- 
vis, but as the air was so stifling, and 

Mr. W not at all brilliant, left 

feeling more need of rest than of any- 
thing else. Called at the National 
Hotel to see Mrs. Lane a moment. 
Sister Hill gave me a glass of delight- 
ful wine, and I was glad to rest until 
tea time. 

[164] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

January 29, 1864. 

We concluded to improve the fine 
spring weather and have our ^^ Cha- 
teau " cleaned, so Uncle Ben and Aunt 
Sally commenced immediately after 
breakfast. Patterson (No. 6) came 
and took up my matting, and after 
dinner he put it down in the very best 
manner, and assisted me in putting 
things in order. Sister Southwick hav- 
ing gone out for a drive. Johnny (my 
drummer) came, too, and waited upon 
me. Hon. Mrs. Lovejoy called to see 
us and brought his niece with him. 
Went to see Dr. Banister to request 
of him the favor to have a friend of 
No. 17 transferred to our ward, which 
he kindly granted, and to Ward D 

to say goodby to C 's friend, 

who left to-day, having received 
his furlough. Went again to see 
Mrs. Lane and engaged to go with 
them to Speaker Colfax's reception; 
then to the florist's, and found a 
japonica and some fine white flowers, 
which Miss Piatt arranged very pret- 
tily in my hair. C came at eight, 

[165] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

when my toilette was pronounced com- 
pleted and I was " showed up " to the 
few ladies remaining at home (the 
most of them having gone to the 
Campbell Hospital entertainment), 
who kindly escorted me to the hotel 
where I found Mrs. Lane awaiting, 
and also Major Mace and Dr. Fry, 
who was my escort, and whom I found 
more than usually interesting, he hav- 
ing charge of all the hospitals in Ken- 
tucky and Indiana. The reception 
was crowded. I was introduced to 
some one every other moment, and 
had the pleasure of a conversation 
with Judge Holt, of Kentucky, whose 
fine face was an index of his charac- 
ter. Mrs. and Miss C , a sister of 

the Speaker, received Secretary Crit- 
tenden, our Vice-President, lady and 
daughter, and Major Generals Double- 
day and Schenck were among the 
guests. Met Dr. Stearns and Mr. and 
Mrs. Bobbins also. I was amused to 
meet the Rev. John Pierrepont, of 
Boston, and his last wife, of whose ro- 
mantic marriage I had heard. Took 
[166] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

coffee and went to the basement, from 
which issued feeble sounds of music. 
I succeeded in obtaining a slight view 
of some slightly animated figures mov- 
ing about in a hollow square. Had the 
company of Senator Lane and Major 
Mace to the gate and found the rest of 
the ladies waiting to comment on the 
hospital nurse's toilette and hear what 
she had seen and heard. The major 
invited me, with Mrs. Lane, to attend 
the matinee at the White House the 
next day. 

January 30, 1864. 
To - day was cloudy. Took my 
breakfast in bed, which seemed quite 
homelike, and dressed at my leisure. 
Went to my ward, attended to special 
diet, and left all things in charge of 
my faithful Patterson again. Spent 
three hours delightfully in driving and 
making visits, first at the White 
House, where we found so few people 
that we had a fine opportunity of ob- 
serving the President and his lady, 
with whom Mrs. Lane conversed while 
I was pretending to do the same with 
[167] 



The Ladj^ Nurse of Ward E 

a Scotch gentleman, Mr. McCloud, 
whom I met the evening before. I 
went to the conservatory and made 
our adieus. Left a card at Lord 
Lyons' ; called on Mrs. General Canby, 
whose husband is now Assistant Ad- 
jutant General at the War Depart- 
ment. Was quite weary in the even- 
ing, but was entertained by a German 
in our ward whom we have found to 
be quite a musician; although he has 
not practiced in twenty years, his ren- 
derings of some sweet German waltzes 
was keenly enjoyed. Sisters Griggs 
and Piatt came in, too, and C re- 
turned from the Sanitary Fair; the 
former played her dreamy waltzes be- 
fore we left for " Home." 

January 31, 1864. 
Inspection very late. Studied tac- 
tics with C in his new book after 

dinner a while preparatory for exam- 
ination, and also diligently scanned a 
map which Miss Hill kindly lent us. 
Then attended services in wards A 
and K, where we listened to some very 
[168] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

good remarks from a Eepresentative 
from Iowa, which we were glad to ac- 
cept in our spiritually starved state. 
The music from our hospital choir was 
appreciated in Ward K. Went with 
Sister Griggs to speak to Colonel Har- 
ris and Captain Russel, who are still 
there, both very pleasant gentlemen, 
the latter particularly so. We were 
exceedingly gratified in the evening 
by having the Episcopal evening 
church service read by the Eev. Mr. 
Parvin, of Ohio, who also addressed 
us in a most impressive manner. The 
Rev. Dr. Hunger added a short but 
very affecting sermon. Both of these 
clergymen are engaged in the work of 
the Christian Commission. Our sol- 
diers were unusually impressed, and 
many of them said they could have lis- 
tened all night. They paid the most 
profound attention, and when we saw 
how gratefully the words of our im- 
pressive church service were received 
into their weary, saddened, thirsting 
hearts, we said it is not true that the 
rough soldier's heart is steeled against 
[169] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

spiritual influence, and it is only when 
sermons are meted out to them in " ra- 
tions " with a sparing hand and a cold 
heart that they fail in rousing their 
better nature and are made subjects 
of ridicule. For our own part we felt 
strengthened and lifted from the de- 
pressing influences about us and 
grateful that we had witnessed such 
proof of the power of our beautiful 
service. We had the pleasure of shak- 
ing hands with them, and received an 
invitation to attend the anniversary 
of the Christian Commission at the 
House of Eepresentatives on Tuesday 
evening. Sister Piatt was brought 
down to the " Home " faint and quite 
ill. 

February 1, 1864. 
Our hospital received over one hun- 
dred patients and our ward fifteen 
(betokening a move on the part of the 
Army of the Potomac), none of them 
very ill, but making a long medicine 
list. Sweet Mrs. Eipley is quite ill 
and I have promised to make out her 
diet to-morrow. I went to Ward C to 
[170] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

hear the " Glee Club," assisted by- 
Mrs. Greene; practiced for the dedi- 
cation of the new chapel, although 
feeling quite ill, and after reaching 
the " Home " in desperation took a 
cup of tea from Miss Low, and some 
of Miss Lowell's ginger cakes, which 
she urged me to accept. 

February 2, 1864. 
Passed a miserable night, did not 
sleep until after midnight, and have 
spent most of the day in bed. Re- 
ceived a good, long letter from Gulie, 
and a little one from Hattie, which I 
enjoyed to the utmost, and which al- 
most made me forget my indisposi- 
tion. Mrs. Ripley came and spent an 
hour with me, reading poetry, etc., 
very pleasantly. We have had quite 
a hospital at our " Chateau," as Mrs. 
Ingersoll is still here, we now number 
four, and excepting Mrs. Ingersoll, 
none of us required the aid of a sur- 
geon, which we hear is considered very 
indeiDcndent and commendable on our 
part. Was disappointed in not being 
[171] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

able to go with the party to the anni- 
versary of the Christian Commission. 
Sister Griggs was also obliged to re- 
main, to play for our " choir," which 
is to practice for the first time in the 
new chapel. 

February 3, 1864. 
Took breakfast at the " Chateau " 
but went to my ward soon after and 
devoted myself to it. I was rejoiced 
to see " Kensor " return quite recov- 
ered from smallpox, though his face 
shows still very plainly the marks of 
that dreadful disease. Eeceived a 
present of a fine gold pen and handle 
in morocco case from a young soldier 
who has only been a week in the ward ; 
he tempted me into a conversation at 
first by handing me two apples, which 
like Mother Eve I did not refuse, so 
he gained courage to make this pres- 
entation. Went to the chapel on our 
grounds (which is just finished) to 
^ hear our choir practice with Mrs. 
Green and Miss Billings, a soprano 

whom C was pleased to be 

obliged to go for, with Mrs. G in 

[172] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

the ambulance. Dr. Bliss came in, and 
made some happy suggestions to the 
leading tenor, which caused the be- 
nignant smile to pass from his coun- 
tenance and gave him altogether the 
appearance of a rooster caught in a 
summer shower. Wrote in journal in 

the evening, while C sat by the 

desk and dispatched two letters in his 
usual desperate style; then studied 
tactics and formed " platoons " with 
my new pen and handle. 

February 4, 1864 
As Dr. Stuart was quite ill, and 
after waiting until nearly twelve, I 
made the rounds myself, prescribed 
diet, etc., which amused my patients 
much. Our chapel was dedicated this 
afternoon. Eev. Dr. Marks (author 
of "The Peninsular Campaign") 
preached the sermon and our choir 
sang the anthem, etc., beautifully. 
The church was filled, and altogether 
it was quite an interesting occasion. 
I played over my music before quite 
an audience of new patients. Sister 
[173] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

* 

Marsh entertained us at the house 
with mince pie, cake, and tea, having 
received a box, and Sister Southwick's 
apples have arrived. , 

February 5, 1864. 

Found no surgeon in my ward, and 

also Charlie M with the measles, 

rapidly developing as we supposed. 
Eeported to the officer of the day, and 
had three in half an hour. Dr. Horsey 
made the rounds. Bound my carpet 
rug. Felt the need of exercise so 
much that I took a walk with Sisters 
Hill and Griggs. Called on Messrs. 
Blanchard and Graham, our fellow- 
passengers on the James S. Green, 
when we went to New York last Sep- 
tember, a five days' sail from Wash- 
ington never to be forgotten, but they 
were both out, and on our return 
called at the chaplain's to see Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Millett, who is quite 
ill again and complains of the ladies 
being unsociable; but No. 6 soon 
came to tell me Miss Thomas was in 
the ward, and found the friend with 
her was Miss Eobinson (Dr. Bowen's 
[174] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

friend). She gave us some very fine 

instrumental music, and Miss T 

sang, which of course soon attracted 

many visitors. C came in, and in 

his enthusiastic manner showed me 
the second letter from his regiment, 
which was a recommendation for pro- 
motion, that was all one could wish, 
and in which I fully sympathized. 
Charlie was suffering severely with 
his throat, but Dr. Hunger (who has 
charge of us now until Dr. S re- 
covers) was attending to him. Harris 
presented me with a set of dice of his 
own manufacture. While feeding 
Charlie something which I had pre- 
pared soft for his supper, Sister 

S sent an invitation to accompany 

her to George William Curtis's lec- 
ture, which, although completely tired 
out, I could not refuse. I am delight- 
ed that I did not, for I enjoyed it be- 
yond anything I have heard yet. His 
" Way of Peace " is a sad and sorrow- 
ful way, but seems the only sure one. 
He was a little unjust to Governor 
Seymour and he places the Abolition- 
[175] 



V 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

ists a little too high on the record of 
events, but altogether it was a good 
lecture, and gave me a better knowl- 
edge of myself. Dr. Banister, who 
accompanied us with Sister Griggs, 
is a stanch Democrat, and we told him 
he looked like " a sadder and a wiser 
man." 

February 6, 1864. 

Dr. Hunger made early rounds but 

was glad to see Dr. S come in 

later as I am so worried about Charlie 

M , thinking he may possibly have 

the smallpox. A number of patients 
were brought in from a sad railway 
accident at the " Long Bridge," three 
from our ward, who fortunately were 
not much injured. In the evening, 
while Curtis and Cross gave us some 
music with the violin and piano, I 
wrote an account of the Episcopal ser- 
vice we enjoyed last Sabbath evening, 
for Hospital Gazette^ and played back- 
gammon with No. 6. 

February 7, 1864. 

Dr. Butler died two days ago, and 
his funeral service was held to-day. 
[176] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

The chaplain had a short service in 
our chapel, and it was homelike and 
pleasant to see people going to church 
and particularly gratifying to see the 
soldiers, with limbs and without limbs, 
gathering to a house of prayer. Some 
of us did not enjoy the evening ser- 
vice, which was a Methodist prayer 
meeting, though I was interested to 
hear three or four of the men express 
their religious convictions with much 
seeming sincerity. We ladies conclud- 
ed, after we reached the " Chateau " 
and expressed our feelings, that we 
should petition for a regular service 
once on Sunday, and then took a little 
" Noyeau " to strengthen our resolu- 
tion as well as ourselves, after the 
long " sitting." 

February 8, 1864. 
As Mrs. Eipley's cold is worse, I 
made out her requisition for diet. 
Some new patients arrived from 
" Convalescent Camp," which is bro- 
ken up. Took luncheon at the house in 

place of dinner with Mrs. E and 

Miss Low ; went with Sister G to 

[177] 



The Lady Xurse of Ward E 

the temperance meeting at the chapel 
in the evening, intending to stay but a 
short time, but did not like to disturb 
the crowd; however, when Chaplain 
Jackson " ventured to make a re- 
mark," with C 's assistance I made 

my way out. Went to the dispensary 

for medicine for Mrs. E which I 

had promised her; found Dr. Stuart 
and Mr. Ramsdell, with whom I had 
quite a chat, while Mr. Webb was pre- 
paring the medicine. Sister S 

had kept the tea hot for me, the rolls, 
etc., in readiness, to which I intended 
to return much earlier. 

February 9, 1864. 
George William Curtis repeated his 
fine lecture, entitled " The Way of 
Peace," in our little chapel, which I am 
sure must do a world of good, apart 
from the present enjoyment, in which 
soldiers and all seemed to participate. 
Afterwards spent an hour with Mrs. 

R , who is still ill. Had a severe 

headache in the evening. Read Dick- 
ens's Christmas story, " Mrs. Lirri- 
[178] 



The Lady IVurse of Ward E 

per's Lodgings," while C wrote 

his application to the Provost Mar- 
shal. Messrs. Oilman and Blanchard, 
fellow-passengers on the James 8, 
Green, paid ns a visit, accompanied by 

a gentleman, Mr. Bull, and Mr. B • 

sent us some copybooks. 

February 10, 1864. 

No surgeon again; Dr. S ill in 

bed. No. 4, attendant, came in after 
an absence of two days, ill with ery- 
sipelas. I prescribed the famous cran- 
berry poultice and went with my Ex- 
tra Diet to Dr. Bliss, with whom I had 
a long conversation about the two 
most absorbing topics to us ladies at 

present — Mrs, I and the chaplain, 

in which the ladies were so much in- 
terested that I was obliged to have an 
audience at the " Chateau " after din- 
ner. Took tea with Sister S , then 

after giving out Special Diet I went 
with Dr. Banister and Sister Griggs 
to hear the Rev. Pierrepont deliver his 
poem on " Fashion." I was heartily 
disgusted and indignant over his read- 
[179] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

ing of the poem, as there was neither 
wit nor sense to excuse his vulgarity, 
and coming from a clergyman who has 
reached the venerable age of three- 
score and ten, it was in the extreme 
disgusting and his blaspheming pain- 
ful. The only apology his friends can 
make for him is that he is in his do- 
tage. Drs. Bobbins and Stearns took 
tea and cake with us at the " Cha- 
teau." There is a large fire on the 
avenue, reported to be the President's 
stable. 

February 11, 1864. 
Accompanied Sisters Griggs and 
Southwick to Georgetown to call upon 
Captain Eussel (late of Ward K), 
who is a New Yorker from Salem, 
Washington County, near Saratoga. 
He amused me with his misanthrop- 
ical remarks, evidently caused by 
some sad disappointment. Called on 
Mrs. Senator Lane also. Denied my- 
self the pleasure of going to AVard F, 
where our music was congregated, and 
wrote letters. 

[180] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

February 12, 1864. 

Dr. Kennon sent to our ward, as Dr. 

S , at my suggestion, reported 

himself off duty. Miss Low an- 
nounced Miss Felton's engagement to 
Mr. Ledyard, a relative of Governor 
Seymour. 

February 13, 1864. 

Eeceived a charming note from Rev. 
Dr. Storrs, and commenced a piece for 
his little paper, the Drum Beat. Was 
delighted to have inspection this af- 
ternoon, instead of to-morrow, it be- 
ing more than what we had hoped. 

February 14, 1864. 
Mr. Murdoch read in our chapel 
from the Scriptures and some most 
effective pieces of sacred poetry in his 
magnificent style. A genuine March 
day. Went to Trinity, corner C and 
Third Streets, to-day being the first 
Sunday in Lent, and heard a very 
good sermon explaining this custom 
in the church. Met the Wilsons, who 
invited me to take a seat in their pew. 



[181] 



The Lady Noirse of Ward E 

February 15, 1864. 

Wrote valentines to Sisters Hill and 

Southwick, who were indisposed at the 

'' Chateau." After dinner went to Dr. 

Bliss's office to ask for certificate for 

C ; met Dr. Stuart in dispensary, 

looking miserably ; he requested of me 
one of my carte de visites. I concluded 
he was getting childish, or that he was 
thinking of leaving us. Went to Ward 
A to enjoy a little music with Sister 
Griggs ; Sister P followed, and af- 
ter playing our duet C came to see 

if we were going to Ward K according 
to invitation ; but the slight snow hav- 
ing prevented Mrs. Green from com- 
ing, I concluded to enjoy the music 
where we were and he and Sister 
P sang through their list. 

February 16, 1864. 
Mrs. Doolittle's school commenced 
to-day in the chapel, with about fifty 
scholars, a grand thing for our sol- 
J diers, and Miss Low's box of books ar- 
rived just in time. Sister Griggs has 
received a donation of sixty dollars 
[182] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

from a young ladies' seminary in 
Wheeling, W. Va., for rocking chairs 
and footstools for her ward, and her 
friend who has charge of it suggests 
acknowledgments by letters from the 

soldiers to them. As Sister G has 

promised us a chair, of which we are 
much in need, she expects some letters 
to be forthcoming from our ward, so 
read the accompanying letters to 
those likely to be interested, hoping 
some one would write. Sent a note to 
Dr. Storrs at Willard's. By invitation 
of dear Mrs. Eipley went to Willard's 
Hall to see the fine tableaux arranged 
by Mrs. Bartlett, of Boston, for the 
benefit of the " Sanitary." They were 
the most beautiful I ever saw. Exces- 
sively cold winter again. 

February 17, 1864. 
Dispatched note to Dr. Storrs by 
orderly that we would be more than 
happy to hear a lecture from him in 
our little chapel. Finished my piece 
for him entitled " The Shadow at 
Christmas." As No. 19 had spent the 
[183] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

morning in a vain effort to write a 
note of thanks for the rocking chair, 
I took his paper and much to his re- 
lief wrote one in rhyme, which seemed 
to delight him mnch, and he copied it 
with enthusiasm. Here is the letter: 

NO. 19'S LETTER OF THANKS 

Dear Sally Tingle, 
Your name will jingle, 

So I will write in rhymes; 
What I wish to say 
Without delay, 

That we thank you a thousand times. 

For your kindness rare. 
With the rocking chair, 

That has fallen to our lot. 
In which we will sit, 
And think a good bit 

Of you, and no knowing what not. 

The soldiers, you know. 
Though stern to their foe. 

The ladies ever hold dear. 
Excuse the plain speech 
Of your friend William Leech, 

A Wisconsin Third Volunteer. 

To-day was the most severely cold 
day we have had this winter, and was 
[184] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

obliged to wear my thick cloak and 
hood all day. Dr. Storrs's lecture on 
" Trifles " was, as I expected, finished 
and beautiful, closing with an exqui- 
site tribute to woman. Expected 
Messrs. Parsons and Martini to de- 
light us with their music, but the ex- 
cessive cold prevented their coming, 
and the assembled audience was 
obliged to content themselves with 
such entertainment as we could fur- 
nish. Because of the intense cold 
stayed up very late before retiring. 
At midnight borrowed some flannel 
costumes from Miss Low's box, which 
had just arrived. Sisters Griggs and 
Piatt and myself took a hot whisky 
punch, when we ventured to take off a 
few outer garments and retire for the 
night. 

February 18, 1864. 

The ward was unusually comfort- 
able. C took his papers to 

Colonel Wisewall, who told him to 
come again in two days to be exam- 
ined. Dahle (my last summer's No. 
6) came in, being on his way to the 
[185] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

front with deserters. I am quite ill 
with influenza and half starved. 
Played backgammon in the evening 
with No. 6, being too stupid or weak 

for anything else, while C studied 

history and the Constitution. Took 
tea with Miss Low at the " Chateau." 

February 19, 1864. 
Being starved and chilled, conse- 
quently am cross. Sent No. 6 for a 
stew of hot oysters at ten o'clock and 
left for the " Home," where he soon 
followed me with them, and I found 
they were the medicine I needed. 
Took a siesta and did not return to the 
ward until supper time. After I had 
given out Special Diet I returned to 
take tea with Miss Low and Mrs. Eip- 
ley. Spent part of the evening with 
Sister Piatt, where I found the wife of 
her " No. 6 " and her baby. Curtiss 
played accompaniments on his guitar 
and we sang, always assured of a de- 
lighted audience of soldier patients in 
bed, weary of their slowly healing 
wounds. 

[186] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

February 20, 1864. 

Weather moderating. Inspection at 
four by officer of day, Dr. Horsey. In 
Ward C Mr. McCloud gave a reading. 
He proved to be the gentleman I met 
at Speaker Colfax^s reception. He 
entertained ns very pleasantly for an 
hour. 

February 21, 1864. 
A quiet morning; no inspection to 
anticipate, and after making out diet 
list went to church (Trinity). Dined 

with Mrs. W and children in the 

surgeon's dining room (having invited 
myself) as ^' Johnny '^ (who waits 
upon our table) had nothing for me. 
Attended the services in Wards C and 
E, and finding them not so interesting 
as usual and very weary, went to our 
"Home" and slept until after supper 
time. There were services in our 
chapel and a sermon. 

February 22, 1864. 
To-day is Washington's birthday. 
Misses Low and Lowell left for the 
front, with the anticipation of attend- 
[187] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

ing the " ball " also — quite the envy 
of the rest. When I entered the ward 
found Patterson had been proclaimed 
Ward Master, and worried all day 
about selecting a No. 6 for orderly. 
Sister Griggs and I proposed a 
"candy pull" to celebrate the day, 
and went to the officer of day (who 
proved to be Dr. Stuart) for a written 
order for the " Special Diet Kitchen," 
which he kindly furnished without 
any " ifs." We concluded we would 
prefer having Dr. Bliss's indorse- 
ment; therefore dispatched Sister 
Southwick to the fair, where she found 
him and obtained it with the timely 
advice to " pull away." Enjoyed the 
evening vastly, which proved to be 
quite a success. Dr. Banister, Drs, 
Stuart and Horsey, and Lieutenant 
Colonel Millett were the invited 

guests. Dr. B went for the two 

violinists (soldiers), and we had a 
dance while the candy was boiling, and 
finished with the " Lancers " ; while 
it must be confessed I enjoyed two 
fine " Schottisches " with Dr. Horsey, 
[188] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

somethiiig I never expected to do in 
this place, but we are really becoming 
quite conventional and worldly. Dr. 

S proved himself an adept in 

"pulling/' and Dr. H in eating. 

We assisted in the braiding, and only 
reached our " Chateau '' at 12 p.m., 
yet were not demoralized in the least. 

February 23, 1864. 

Sent Dr. Bliss some candy, with the 
compliments of the " Pullers." Love- 
ly day to-day. Eenewed rent of our 
piano. With " Fees," my new orderly, 
accomplished the morning duties, and 
then decided to send for the trained 
" No. 6 " offered me, hoping the tur- 
bulent spirits in the ward would be 
quiet. Took a charming ambulance 
drive to the Freedman's Village and 
Arlington House again, for Dr. Hor- 
sey's benefit, who accompanied us and 
made himself very agreeable and quite 
entertaining. Went first to the Pro- 
vost Marshal's for our pass, when 
Colonel Montgomery kindly gave us 
a special one for a month. As we ar- 
[189] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 
rived home after tea time Dr. H— 



took tea with us; spent a part of 
the evening with dear Mrs. Eipley. 

Found C on the antagonistic side, 

and that his examination was deferred 
yet another day. 

February 24, 1864. 
Went to my ward before breakfast 
and gave out " Special Diet," and to 
the officer of day for an order for a 
cup of beef tea. Neither he nor his 
relief officer, Dr. Stearn., nor Dr. 
Bobbins was there, and meeting Dr. 
Banister, he volunteered to take it to 
Dr. Stuart, who had not left his room, 
and considering the length of tape I 
had used and the color, the ruling 
spirit of the " Special Diet Kitchen " 
was obliged to be satisfied with it. I 
took upon myself a little dignity, 
though felt like throwing down arms 
and running away, leaving the place 
to my antagonists. Mended our 
" bags," which we have buttoned over 
the thin bar across the top of each 
patient's bed. Shortly after diet was 
attended to. No. 21 suddenly had 
[190] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

an epileptic fit, and the young Catho- 
lic priest and a woman from one of 
the relief societies being on hand, both 
were extremely interested and I sup- 
pose thought me extremely cool, as I 
am becoming quite automaton-like in 
my manner. Eeceived another note 
from dear Dr. Storrs and by the af- 
ternoon's mail a package of his Drum 
Beat for those who contributed. 
Misses Low and Lowell returned 
from the front and gave us interesting 
descriptions of the Army, of General 
Meade's review of the cavalry, artil- 
lery, etc., and of the grand ball. Mild, 

but windy and dusty. C reported 

himself half examined and continues 
his studies. 

February 25, 1864. 
Went to Christian Commission to 
see if they could furnish a chaplain 
for us next Sunday morning. Had a 
call and long chat with Dr. Bowen, 
who surprised us to-day with his sud- 
den appearance. Miss Thomas and 
friend, with a contralto voice, gave 
quite a concert in the ward before sup- 
[191] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

per, and, as usual, drew a crowd. 
Found C had returned a little dis- 
couraged, not having yet been exam- 
ined, so took my tea to the " Home," 
to be eaten after my return, and made 

a call on Colonel W , who gave me 

a written request to Dr. Bliss to allow 
him to come early and promised to 
take him before the examining board. 

February 26, 1864. 
Wrote letter to Sister Gulie ; attend- 
ed the Christian Commission Fair in 
the evening with six of the " Sisters." 
We were astonished by the arrival of 
a new lady nurse, very sweet and in- 
teresting, Miss Merrill, of Portland, 
who has been at Fort Schuyler nine 

months. C was examined, but has 

not received the decision. The Drum 
Beat comes regularly. 

February 27, 1864. 
My new No. 6 is quite ill, and had 
but a few moments' rest at the 
" Home," before I was obliged to re- 
turn to the ward to give out the even- 
[192] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

ing medicine. Practiced a while after 

supper. On my way to Sister S 's 

ward met Dr. Banister, who admits 
he's lonely since Sister Griggs went 
to Baltimore on Thursday and accom- 
panied me; found her Irish violinist 
had returned and was making the 
ward lively with his music. Lieuten- 
ant Colonel Millett came in also, and 
we spent the rest of the evening. Sad 
letter from Jobes, our first ward mas- 
ter, who has lost one of his children. 

February 28, 1864. 
Inspection for the last time on this 

day, as Dr. B was engaged at the 

fair yesterday. Our ward received 
an anticipated compliment, it being 
the first inspection since Patterson 
has been ward master. No. 6 is still 
ill and obliged to do all my work with- 
out assistance. Went with Miss Hill 
to evening service in the Chapel, whicH 
proved to be a Methodist prayer meet- 
ing. Eeceived Yonkers paper with de- 
scription of the wonderful " Sanitary 
Fair " in Brooklyn, N. Y. 
[193] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

* 

February 29, 1864. 

On going to my ward found my new 
No. 6 with bag in hand ready to take 
his departure, as Dr. Stuart had been 
in and finding him ill had transferred 
him to Ward H again, and made a 
short rounds, probably not wishing to 
see me. The ward generally was in 
a state of quiescence. Patterson came 
with the keys and so troubled that I 
forgave him even the slight satisfac- 
tion that I thought he felt yesterday. 
I expressed myself in a few words and 
finished the diet requisition, and my 
morning duties in short order, too, 
and left; spent the rest at our 
'' Home." Wrote a valentine for Sis- 
ter S to send to the Lieutenant 

Colonel and a letter for Gulie to put 
in the post office at the great fair. Dr. 
Bliss came in with his train of clerks 
and the muster rolls, just as I fin- 
ished giving out the medicine. Pat- 
terson acting No. 6 I endeavored to 
sleep away the afternoon. Found 
Dr. Smith in the ward when I went 
to give out the evening medicine; 
[194] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

felt miserable and consulted Dr. Ban- 
ister, who kindly prescribed for me. 

Sister S came with Mrs. Bead, 

whom, entre nous, dear Journal, I 
think a bore. Left the keys with 
Patterson and went " Home," where 
I found Miss Merrill, who looked so 
attractive and related her experiences 
so pleasantly that we prolonged our 
talk for a half hour. 

March 1, 1864. 
Snow and sleet; anything but 

springlike. Sent for Johnny H 

to bring my breakfast, and went to my 
ward quite late. Two gentlemen from 
Brooklyn, Alderman Booth and Eev. 
Woodworth (Methodist clergyman), 
made me a pleasant call of a few mo- 
ments; as I was giving out the medi- 
cines I could not talk with them as 
long as I would have done, so they left 
with a ^' God bless you," for which 
kind words I felt grateful, having 
need of them to revive my energies to- 
day. Among the visitors of all kinds 
who come here daily is a woman, who 
modestly requested our carte-de- 
[195] 



The Lady Nnrse of Ward E 

visites, and a ^' slight sketch '' of the 
ladies here, to forra and illustrate a 
book, which she wishes to arrange, 
and entitle " Heroic Women of this 
War," which was, of course, declined. 
Our wards were disturbed by the ex- 
amining board, and as usual we shall 
probably lose some of our most im- 
portant men. I spent a quiet evening 
reading and talking to some of my 
suffering patients. Dr. Bowen came 
at " Taps " to the " Home,'' and made 
us a short visit. 

March 2, 1864. 

Orders came for five of our Ward 
E soldiers to be returned to duty, 
among them Kysor, our " dresser " 
and our " rustic f ramemaker," who is 
too ill to go. The doctor has made a 
special application for the former, in 
which I have not the slightest faith, as 
we have never been able to keep one 
yet. Sister Griggs returned from 
Baltimore and brought us a beautiful 
cake, made for us and with inscrip- 
tion of icing, '' For the Ladies of Ar- 
mory Square Hospital." 
[196] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

March 3, 1864. 
No '' No. G " yet, and Kysor was 
obliged to go with the rest, much to 
Patterson's regret, who seems to re- 
gard him as a brother, being from the 
same town, and after parting with 
him at the gate, before the crowd 
assembled there with a soldier's heart 
and dry eye, in his own room could 
not restrain even the tears. Patter- 
son's stiff shoulder, from the effects of 
a severe wound, keeps him on hospital 
duty, fortunately for us. Our frame- 
maker was reexamined and retained. 
There was a fine concert in the even- 
ing in Ward A by two violinists, 
two flutists, and a pianist; they also 
sang comic songs. Kysor and Cross- 
man (our night watch) returned from 
the Soldier's Retreat, where they 
were taken, to spend their last evening 
here with their friends, and had a 
merry time in the ward master's 
room. Sister S and I wrote a let- 
ter of remembrance to Lieutenant 
Colonel Fox to send by Kysor, who 
belongs to his regiment. 
[197] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

March 4, 1864. 
Found seven of our patients had 
left in the early train, having received 
their furloughs, and Natze his dis- 
charge papers, so the ward seemed 
very quiet and empty. One new pa- 
tient was brought by his mother, who 
has been trying to take care of him 
outside, and promises to be quite 
a nuisance. This was an exciting 
evening as C received his com- 
mission as lieutenant. I examined his 

papers with him. Colonel W and 

Mrs. Lampson came in, the former 
" to see if my sergeant had received 

his papers." C came forward and 

acknowledged the receipt of them, and 

Colonel W had neither the sense 

nor good feeling to congratulate him, 
which disappointed me. Perhaps 
army rules would not allow it. This 
evening being the anniversary of Sis- 
ter Piatt's arrival here, we celebrated 
it after " Taps." Sister Griggs's cake 
was cut, and with a hot punch, as Sis- 
ter P is suffering from a severe 

cold, we tried to be merry. 
[198] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

March 5, 1864. 
This was a rainy day. Busy all day 
in my ward as I have no " No. 6." I 

have decided not to accompany C 

to Colonel W 's office as he re- 
quested. Eeceived a visit from Dr. 
Jenkins. Inspection at four by little 
Dr. Hunger, officer of day, as Dr. 

B was engaged, which Patterson 

and I regretted as we looked so fine. 
Went to the chapel in the evening 
with the choir to practice their church 
music. 

March 6, 1864. 
Attended church at the Epiphany, 
but did not hear Rev. Dr. Hall. Dined 
at the officers' table, where I found a 
whole turkey awaiting the commis- 
sary's family. Went to my ward, dis- 
tributed papers and kind words, then 
home where I enjoyed a bath and 
siesta. I went to the chapel in the 
evening expecting to hear a sermon 
and have a regular service, but it 
proved to be a Methodist prayer meet- 
ing, which I do not enjoy. 

[199] 



The Lady l^urse of Ward E 

March 7, 1864. 
To-day was a miserable one. Feel- 
ing qnite ill, I went on the avenue to 
get something to eat, it being one of 

my starvation days. Sister G 

had received a box and on my return 
treated me to some mince pie, etc. 
Took tea at our " Chateau " with four 
of the sisters, but did not return to the 
ward, having a headache, and retired 
early. 

March 8, 1864. 
Another rainy day. Discussed the 
important question of allowing 
" Brady " (the " Daguerreotyper ") 
to take our pictures in a group, but 
much to my disappointment it was 
decided not have them taken, fearing 
they would be made too public, and in- 
stead suggested taking a patient from 
each ward to form a group. C re- 
ceived his discharge papers. 

March 9, 1864. 
A beautiful spring day. Our ward 
being exceedingly quiet and empty I 
was invited to the ward master's room 
[200] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

to see C 's sword, who left to-day 

for his boarding house. Went to the 
Capitol with Sisters Piatt and Griggs 
and Mrs. IngersoU ; met Mr. Lovejoy, 
who said Garrett Davis was screaming 

away in the Senate; so Sister G 

and I went to the House, where they 
were " throwing cannon balls at one 
another," but finding it not very in- 
teresting, wandered about the Capitol 
enjoying the fresco paintings, etc., and 
walked home leisurely, enjoying the 
fresh air. Found Mrs. Green at the 
" Home," asking for some lint for the 
wife of a refugee, who has sacrificed 
his property and is now very destitute 
and suffering. Remembered that 
some of cousin Fannie's contribution 
was still left I gave it to her. After 
tea went to the contraband quarters 
with Miss Merrill to teach them, and 
was quite interested; the poor crea- 
tures are so anxious to learn that it 
makes my heart ache to see them. I 
found Sister Southwick there also, 
with a colored baby on her lap (rather 
too much for me), and a child on each 
[201] 



The Lady J^urse of Ward E 

side reading. Eemained after the 
others left to hear a boy of sixteen 
read, who came as we were going and 
looked disappointed thereat. Walked 
into a mudpool in returning to my 
ward, and was obliged to go to the 
^' Chateau " for a change. There was 
a fine concert in Ward A, Miss 
Thomas and two gentlemen singing 
with her. An elderly gentleman and 
his son and daughter also gave us 
some beautiful music, playing on 
piano, violin, and flute. A large audi- 
ence present as usual. Eetired early. 

March 10, 1864. 
Eain again fell to-day. A medical 
cadet (from Philadelphia) reported to 

our ward for dresser. C came in 

and spent the morning with us, and 
read to me his congratulatory letter 
from his father. Two new patients 
from the invalid corps. 

March 11, 1864. 

Still another day of rain. As there 
was so little to detain me in the ward, 
I spent part of the morning and after- 
[202] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

noon at tlie " Home." C came 

about 3 p.M in full uniform and looked 
extremely well. He had reported, and 
was immediately ordered to '' Me- 
ridian Hall." Borrowed some music 
of Miss Wilson and practiced all the 
evening. 

March 12, 1864. 
Beautifully bright day after the 
rain. Indisposed in the afternoon and 
did not go to inspection, which was 
not regretted when I learned Dr. Bliss 
was not there. By Sister Hill's 
invitation, had tea at the " Home " 
with her and Miss Marsh for company. 
The latter has been to her ward for a 
few moments to-day for the first time 
in a week. Spent the evening quietly, 
excepting a few moments at the chap- 
lain's to thank Mrs. J for the 

dock root, when I found the lieutenant 
colonel very amiable, so that he gave 
me his carte-de-visite. I was dis- 
turbed the second time after retiring 
by a call for beef tea for Governor 
" Hicks," who is dangerously ill at the 
National Hotel with erysipelas in one 
[203] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

of his legs, which has been or is to be 
amputated. The beef-tea joke was 
fully enjoyed, as that subject has be- 
come farcical. 

March 13, 1864. 
Attended Dr. HalPs church (Epiph- 
any) with Miss Merrill. He gave us 
an interesting and beautiful sermon, 
which I enjoyed in spite of my weari- 
ness. The dark clouds passed away 
and the day was fine. Was delighted 
to find Captain John Lorimer Wor- 
den's card on my return and hope to 
see him before he leaves town. Ke- 
ceived the extra Drum Beat, for which 
we all looked with interest, and was 
disappointed to find that my " Christ- 
mas Shadow " was the only contribu- 
tion from Armory Square printed in 
it. Dr. Storrs requested so many, 
probably had a surplus. Attended 
evening service at the chapel, which 
the chaplain said would be conducted 
by an Episcopal clergyman; but, as 
usual, it was a special prayer meeting. 



[204] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

March U, 1864. 
Kysor made us a call on his way to 
Tennessee (having been to *^ Camp 
Distribution " ) fully equipped for 
marching. He took one of his " hard 
tacks " from his haversack and gave it 
to me to remember him. There was a 
reading in the evening at the chapel 
by some one (we could not learn his 
name) who recited part of the " Lady 
of Lyons." I did not attend. An- 
swered Sarah^s letter in Sister 
Griggs's room. My rustic picture 
frame (made from a cigar box) is 
completed, and is the prettiest one I 
have seen yet. Have also received a 
number of little presents from my sol- 
diers — among them a heart and cross, 
carved from ivory, from a new pa- 
tient. 

March 15, 1864. 
Dahle called to see us. Went to see 
" Greene " in Ward S, and the birds ; 
he has put them together and they 
have built a nest. I also went to see 
Dr. Bobbins about inviting Colonel 
Straight, late from Libby Prison, to 
[205] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 



lecture for us. Sister Griggs's father 
arrived from Brookline, Mass. Lieu- 
tenant C came to the hospital 

about eleven, and after dinner to the 
" Chateau '' to pay his respects to the 
ladies. Received a letter from Cousin 
Carrie Vanderburgh saying I was to 
receive a box from dear old Quaker 
Hill, which gave me great pleasure, 
for the remembrance as well as the an- 
ticipation of the good things which I 
know will be in it. Found a large slice 
of cake on my table from the one sent 
by the fair to the soldiers who had as- 
sisted them. Patterson brought me a 
treat of raw oysters for my supper. 
Sergeant Eeed returned from fur- 
lough. Sister S and Lieutenant 

Colonel Millett paid me an evening 
visit, as did also Dr. Eobbins. Wrote 
a letter to Gulie. My new patient is 
in a dangerous condition from an 
operation performed this morning. 

March 16, 1864. 
My boy with the measles is not so 
well to-day as it is settling on his 
[206] 



The Lady Xurse of Ward E 

lungs. The soldiers were paid. Found 
cousin Fannie's " oatmeal " just the 
thing for No. 2, who is in a critical 
state, although the operation has been 
very successful thus far. I was sur- 
prised by a visit from Uncle J as I 

was giving out the evening medicines. 
Sister Griggs's father took tea with 
us. No. 49 left for his far-off home in 
Michigan, scarcely able to walk, but 
all agreed in believing it might be the 
best thing for him as he has been ill 
so long, and the change of air might 
renovate and strengthen him. Cross- 
man, who has devoted himself to him 
(being also from Michigan), arranged 
his things. I prepared him a bottle of 
the medicine which, with the careful 
nursing and under God's providence, 
has saved his life. "Was glad to find 
that he is to have the company of Miss 
Piatt's Indiana boy, who is going in 
the same train, and who, although on 
crutches, will be a great comfort to 
him. My box arrived and I spent 
the evening disposing of its contents. 
Sister Griggs thought I had a "hip- 
[207] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

popotamus ^' to stow away, and I 
thought so too before I finished, late 
and weary. 

March 17, 1864. 
" Hospital cleaning " commenced in 
Ward E. Decided I could not go to 

Fort Sumner to-day and Sister G 

deferred until to-morrow. Had my 
small things taken to the " Chateau.'^ 
Craig finished me a beautiful frame, 
and I gave him the light vest and pan- 
taloons, with which he was very much 

pleased. Charlie M presented me 

with the things he drew at the fair. 
My '' Special Diet " patients were 
transferred to Ward F, where I went 
to assist Sister Hill to make out their 
diet for to-morrow; the others were 
distributed, excepting twelve, who re- 
mained in the ward. Lieutenant 
C came in unexpectedly and I in- 
vited him to lunch with me at the 
" Chateau." Mrs. Kipley concluded 
to leave in the five o'clock train, so she 
was obliged to take her tea before us, 
at our " Home," and our general tea 
party in her honor was enjoyed after 
[208] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

she left. Miss Francis (who is a niece 
of "L. Maria Child'') and I accom- 
panied her to the cars, and enjoyed 
the fresh air in a comfortable ba- 
rouche. I regretted so much to have 
her leave, as I have become deeply at- 
tached to her. As she requested, gave 
her the little " Directory," with two 
additional verses dedicated to her. 
After the tea things were disposed of, 
I spent two hours alone at the 
" Home," deliciously silent ; then paid 
my desolate-looking ward a visit and 
found the remaining occupants (to 
whom I had sent a fine addition to 
their supper), with hats on, collected 
about the only stove in the room with 
fire up. Visited my patients in Ward 
F. Among them the poor little boy ill 
with the measles, whom I could scarce- 
ly make comprehend that neither Sis- 
ter Hill nor I wished any return for 
taking care of him. He said so touch- 
ingly, " I have a mother." Wrote in 
journal and retired late. 



[209] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

March 18, 1864. 

Went to the commissary's office be- 
fore breakfast to request the ambu- 
lance, which in spite of my diplomatic 
efforts was " positively engaged " and 
could not be obtained; but in an hour 
word came that I could have it, not be- 
ing aware that I was Sister Griggs's 
" diplomat," who with her father, Dr. 
Banister, Sister Southwick, Lieuten- 
ant Colonel Millett, and myself 
formed a very pleasant party. We 
took our luncheon with us and rode 
to the Chain Bridge and to Fort Sum- 
ner; then called on Miss Griggs's 
cousin. Lieutenant Colonel Talbot, of 
the First Maine Artillery, formerly 
Eighteenth Massachusetts Volunteers. 
Mrs. Talbot had gone to town. We re- 
mained in his small house, from which 
we had a fine view of their parade 
ground and saw him and Colonel 
Chaplain review the regiment. We 
drove about the fort. It was exceed- 
ingly windy and dusty, and it required 
a great deal of management to keep 
comfortable. We ate our lunch and 
[210] 



The Lady Xurse of Ward E 

altogether we were the merriest party 
yet, and on our return accepted the 
lieutenant colonel's invitation to stop 
in Georgetown for an oyster supper. 
In the evening there was a concert in 
Ward A for Mr. Griggs's benefit. 
Miss Thomas and friends and the 
lieutenant colonel came, all still in ex- 
cellent spirits; Lieutenant C was 

also present. Eetired quite fatigued. 

March 19, 1864. 

Craig oiled my frame and put the 
glass in. I packed it in the box to 

send home by Mr. G , and wrote a 

long letter. Sister S being ill, I 

dined at the '^ Home,'' and made tea 
for her, while vainly trying to ignore 
my own aching head. However, I per- 
sisted in arranging my dress for Mrs. 
John B. Allen's reception. Lieuten- 
ant Colonel M ordered a carriage 

and took Sisters S , Griggs, Piatt, 

and myself. Dr. Bobbins accompa- 
nied the rest of the ladies, as Mrs. 
Allen's kind invitation was accepted 
unanimously. 

[211] 



The Lady .Xurse of Ward E 

March 20, 1864. 
Quite miserable, and spent the day 
at the " Home." Made a desperate ef- 
fort and went to the chapel in loose 
dress and cloak as we had our first 
Episcopal service. Mr. Lovejoy 
called, and Captain John Lorimer 
Worden (the husband of our old 
friend and neighbor) spent an hour 
with me. He is here attending Ad- 
miral Wilkes's court-martial and will 
remain some time. Went to visit 
Sister Hill and my patients in Ward F 

in the evening. Dr. S and Sister 

H both prescribed for my nervous 

headache. Talked a while with my 
poor boy with the measles, who is very 
ill ; we have promised to telegraph for 
his mother in the morning. Went to 
Ward G and joined in the singing ; Sis- 
ter Piatt played the melodeon. Colo- 
nel Harris and Lieutenant Morton, 
Sixth Maine, were among the sing- 
ers, this being their first visit out of 
Ward K. 



[212] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

March 21, 1864. 

Severe cold weather again. "Was 
surprised to hear that our measles boy 
died at 4 a.m. Went to the ward and 
wrote a letter to his mother. Too 
busy about many things to realize that 
I am " off duty,'^ as our ward is being 
renovated. Spent the evening in 
Wards F and C. Mrs. Hall brought 
in a gentleman formerly from Yon- 
kers and who was organist in Rev. Mr. 
Brewer's church the first winter we 
attended. 

March 22, 1864. 

Commenced letter for Mrs. Dag- 
gett. Equinoctial snow storm. Wrote 

note to Lieutenant Colonel M 

who came to see me after dinner and 
escorted Sister Griggs and myself to 
the President's reception. Lieutenant 

C also came and made quite a 

visit. Sergeant Harris came to say 
^' good-by." Went to reception not- 
withstanding the snowstorm. Dr. 
Bobbins escorted the other " Sisters " 
excepting Misses Piatt, Southwick, 
and Francis. Enjoyed the evening 
[213] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

very much. Misses Merrill, Griggs, 
and I had the presumption to go to 
the President, meeting him alone in 
an outer room, for a second " shake " 
of his cordial hand and make a short 
speech, which he received very kindly, 

calling Miss M " dear child,'^ and 

thanking me for my compliment; it 
was thus we " carried off the palm/' 
Our gallant escort hailed a carriage 
and we arrived home in style ; but we 
had to plunge through a snow bank to 
get into the house, where Sister Piatt 
was waiting for us with a pot of whis- 
ky punch and cup of tea. Mrs. F , 

wife of an editor of one of the Boston 
papers (a very pretty woman), tried 
to flirt with the colonel, but he had the 
good taste to prefer the hospital 
nurses. The ladies from Dr. Bliss's 
hospital at Baltimore were there, as 

were also Miss G 's friend, Miss 

Capen, and Miss Kendall, the former 
looking very handsome in evening 
dress. 



[214] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

March 23, 1864. 
Was obliged to bid adieu to our gal- 
lant colonel, who had only of late re- 
vealed himself in his true colors as a 
decided ladies' man, instead of a hard- 
ened old bachelor. Superintended 
Uncle Ben's cleaning of our parlor, 
etc., and went to Ward C in the even- 
ing, as Sister P expected Miss 

Thomas and friends. Lieutenant 

C and Sister Griggs also came, 

and at " Taps " we left for the house, 

taking Lieutenant C with us, 

where I treated them to a glass of 
Catawba and cake. 

March 24, 1864. 
Wrote all the morning. Sister 

P was surprised by a present of 

a beautiful album from her patients. 
Fine weather to-day. Went with Sis- 
ter Griggs to the Senate, as we heard 
that Senator Charles Sumner was to 
speak, but was disappointed. Went 
in the Supreme Court chamber, where 
some of the old judges, or fudges, were 
asleep, and the rest looked as though 
they would be soon; fearing it might 
[215] 



The Lady i^urse of Ward E 

be contagious, we passed on to the 
House of Representatives, where we 
met Mr. McCloud, who said the Hon. 
E. Brooks, editor of the New York 
Express, was speaking — he was con- 
sidered the most eloquent in the 
House, to which remark our Boston 
friend added, in her decided tone, " a 
rank copperhead," one of those men 
who " use the livery of Heaven in 
which to serve the devil," which 
dampened our ardor a little. We 
found him tall, spare, with one eye- 
glass, an English-looking man, ges- 
ticulating as if in a rage about pa- 
per currency. I was not prepossessed 
in his favor. Called at the Massa- 
chusetts relief rooms on our way 
home. Spent the evening with Miss 
Merrill in her ward, writing and talk- 
ing over our hospital experiences. 
Found Miss Capen with Sister Griggs 
in the parlor, the former remaining 
overnight. She seems as amiable and 
capable as her bright face indicates. 
She invited me to visit Baltimore with 

Sister G , which I shall hope to do 

[216] 



The Lady INurse of Ward E 

before I leave Washington. My last 
day " off duty." 

March 25, 1864. 
Eeceived a good, long letter from 
Sister Gulie. After a week's absence, 
again took possession of my ward, 
which is beautifully clean and white. 
Our old patients came in immediately 
after breakfast, bringing their chairs, 
and looking as pleased as if they had 
received a furlough. I was glad to 
take my seat again at the green-cov- 
ered table, after Johnny, my drum- 
mer boy, had assisted me in taking 
back my ornaments, pictures, etc., 
from the " Home." Fish day to-day, 
so dispensed some of my nice Quaker 
Hill tongue to my patients. Remained 
all the afternoon in the ward. Lieu- 
tenant C came for a half hour and 

read me a long letter from his father. 
After tea played some pretty music 
Sergeant Eeed brought from home 
(Dr. Banister invited me to attend 
church, it being Good Friday, but the 
severe rain prevented). The sick and 
wounded began to arrive. We received 
[217] 



The Lady ¥urse of Ward E 

a cavalry boy, shot on picket duty ; his 
limb was amputated a week since, and 
one poor fellow breathed his last just 
at the door, so that all we could do for 
him was to prepare his body for the 
grave. One dear little fellow of four- 
teen, who has been some major's or- 
derly, was brought in Ward K, very 
ill. They say the army is to move im- 
mediately, and report says Lee and 
his army have disappeared. 

March 26, 1864. 

Found thirteen new patients in our 
ward and plenty to do, so did not 
leave it until dinner. Dr. Bliss com- 
plimented us at inspection. Enjoyed 
an hour by myself in our little parlor, 
lighted only by the two street lamps 
in front. Plaited a clean cap for my 
bonnet to wear to-morrow to church, 
it being Easter Sunday. Patterson 
(my ward master) presented me with 
his carte de visite. 

March 27, 1864. 
Dr. Banister asked if he might ac- 
company me to Dr. HalPs church 
[218] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

(Epiphany), to which I, of course, as- 
sented. It was an elegant day, with a 
cloudless sky. The church was crowd- 
ed, but after waiting a half hour I 
found a seat. The sermon was an in- 
teresting one, and I enjoyed the music 
and sight of the flowers about the 
altar ever so much, and also the walk, 
although it was rather a long one. 
After dinner I was obliged to rest and 

sleep. Lieutenant C came in the 

evening, and we went to the " Cha- 
teau," where we found Sisters Griggs 
and Southwick, and Dr. Banister 
(who had found the little mission 
church closed) sitting in the little par- 
lor by the light of the street lamps, to 
which we did not object. C re- 
mained a while after " Taps," as he 
was not to meet his friend until ten, 
to walk back to camp, three miles 
away. 

March 28, 1864. 

Endeavored to entertain my ward in 

the evening, as poor Leech is getting 

dispirited, fearing he may be obliged 

to have his foot taken off, or have a 

[219] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

useless one for the rest of his life ; it 
is hard even to anticipate such a thing 
after ten months' confinement. 



March 29, 1864. 
Wrote a letter for my new amputa- 
tion patient, whose mother lives in 
Thirteenth Street, New York. Lieu- 
tenant C came in, but thinks he 

will not ask for leave of absence just 
now to visit his home. Was delighted 
to have Johnny, my drummer boy, put 
down for furlough; he went to Dr. 
Bliss and asked for it himself. Pro- 
fessor McLeod came and gave a read- 
ing or recitation in Ward F, which 
was too dry for the soldiers to enjoy; 
recitation is not his forte, though he 
evidently thinks he has talent in that 
line. It rained again furiously. 

Johnny H , my No. 6, went to the 

^' Home " for my rubbers and umbrel- 
la, which I find is necessary, as it 
leaks so here, especially about our 
" pipe," that we have no way of dry- 
ing our feet, and the half of our room 

over Sister S 's bed was so wet 

[220] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

she was obliged to take refuge in Miss 
Merriirs room. 

March 30, 1864. 

Wrote notice of the death of my 
" measles boy " for the Gazette, and 
in my ward book the names, etc., of 
my patients, which I have neglected 
of late. Visited my pet patients in 
the evening, and devoted myself to 
the ward generally. After " Taps " 
sat by the stovepipe ruminating, con- 
sequently retired late. 

March 31, 1864. 

A long, monotonous day, devoted to 
idle thinking. At night such a miser- 
able decoction of tea on our table 
that I invited Sister Hill to join me at 
the " Home," after which took a walk 
with her and Sister Marsh to the tele- 
graph office. Called at the Newsboys' 
Home on our return, and was very 
much pleased to see such nice quar- 
ters for them. Went in Ward D to 
hear Miss Merrill try her new piano. 
Commenced writing a letter for 
Quaker Hill. 

[221] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

April 1, 1864. 

A real April Fool's day — busy, busy 
about nothing. It commenced raining 
again after dinner. Wrote in the 
evening until midnight, which finished 
my Quaker Hill document. Miss Ca- 
pen came from Baltimore to attend 
reception at Speaker Colfax's, but too 
rainy. 

April 2, 1864. 
A most miserable day, raining and 
snowing together. Was obliged to 
place five dishes in our room to catch 
the dripping water. This was a busy 
day for me. Assisted the ward mas- 
ter in putting up our curtains, and at 
inspection Dr. Bliss pronounced our 
ward "perfect,'* with many compli- 
ments. Grossman's wife came from 
Michigan without giving him warn- 
ing, and there was quite an affecting 
scene. Spent the evening in Ward C 
as Sister Anna Piatt's assistant. 

April 3, 1864. 
Spent the whole morning in my 
ward, in addition to my usual duties, 
[222] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

writing letters and entertaining my 
" amputation boy," and doing various 
things too numerous to mention here. 
Felt the effects of midnight vigils, and 
took a long sleep after dinner. Went 
to see the baby in Ward C, the wife of 
a soldier having been unexpectedly 
confined here, shortly after tea. 
When I returned to the ward to ar- 
range the night medicines found Lieu- 
tenant C had been there, and Pat- 
terson told him I was at church. The 
lieutenant's regiment has moved to 
General Martindale's barracks at the 
" Circle." 

April 4, 1864. 
It is five months to-day since I re- 
turned. I swept and put my room in 
order, having leisure as usual on Mon- 
day morning ; and as I was just finish- 
ing, with handkerchief on my head, 
Mrs. Senator Lane and Miss H. Fan- 
ning Eead called. The former offered 
consolation by saying she regretted so 
much she did not think of sending me 
an invitation to accompany them to 
[223] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Mount Vernon. Found poor " Fees '' 
quite ill, and made liim some tea and 
toast, and went to Dr. Bliss to get a 
special pass for Grossman, who, man- 
like, sent his wife, a stranger, to re- 
mind me, instead of doing it himself. 
Patterson quite ill with a cold, so 
played backgammon to make him for- 
get it. Dahl came in, and amused 
himself looking on, as I used to play 
with him last summer. It is raining 
again. 

April 5, 1864. 
Kain, rain, rain, and persistently 
pouring. I felt " dumpish " and 
took breakfast with Sister Hill, who 
is indisposed at the " Home " ; used 
Sister Griggs's admirable little ar- 
rangement to boil an egg. Then went 
up and took charge of her ward also, 
making out " special diet," and ar- 
ranging medicines for both wards. 
iVfter dinner had a long and interest- 
ing conversation with Miss Merrill, 
and after going to the " House " spent 
the rest of the afternoon with her and 
Sister Piatt sewing, the steady rain 
[224] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

on the roof shutting out even our 
wards for a short time. 

April 6, 1864. 

Four new patients arrived, among 
them a good violinist. The sun shone 
at last, and our dampened spirits 
were cheered up; the afternoon was 
charming. Took a walk with Sister 
Piatt, and was glad that we relin- 
quished the idea of going to the House 
of Eepresentatives to hear George 
Thompson deliver his English senti- 
ments on slavery. As we had a musi- 
cal evening, our two violinists, with 
bass viol and piano accompaniment, 
were playing when Miss Thomas and 
friends arrived, and we enjoyed some 
excellent music. Mrs. Davis, a wealthy 
New York lady, very much interested 
in the hospitals there, in the fair, etc. 
(having contributed $1,200 to the 
fair), came with some friends in our 
ward to-day and asked permission to 
converse with the men. 

April 7, 1864. 

After finishing my morning duties 
in the ward I copied the music of some 
[225] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

of our bugle calls. Sister Griggs, who 
has spent her week of " off duty " with 
some friends in town, returned this 
morning. Eeceived a letter from Mrs. 
Bradley, a friend of long ago, took a 
short walk for fresh air, and called 
at Mr. Blanchard's store, who gave 
me a rubber ruler. On my return 
went directly to the ward, where I 
found, as I expected. Miss Thomas 
with seven young girls from Mrs. 
Amidon^s school singing with her,, 
which as usual delighted a large 
crowd from the other wards also, af- 
ter which the bugle called " Assem- 
bly," and the soldiers collected in the 
open air to hear the great American 
traveler (as he calls himself), Daniel 
Pratt, speak, whom they said was 
very amusing, though some think 
slightly demented. Went to Ward 
C a while before " Taps " to try their 
new piano. Little Johnny left to-day 
on furlough. 

April 8, 1864. 
Busy all the morning with one of 
my new patients who has the measles, 
[226] 



The Lady Nurse oT Ward E 

and attended to the numberless wants 
of the others. Wrote account of yes- 
terday's concert for the Gazette, at 
the request of Pyne (one of the young 
printers), and also a notice of Mrs. 
Eipley's departure. Went with Sister 

S to call on the Misses Gillies. 

Miss E had gone to New York, to 

attend the fair. Mrs. and Miss G 

were very cordial and gave us a gay 
little bouquet (they are in charge of 
the Naval Observatory), which must 
be very pleasant in summer. Took a 
promenade past the barracks, at the 
Circle, to inspect the quarters of the 
Veteran Eeserve Corps, where our 

friend Lieutenant C is living. 

Saw Mrs. Lincoln in her establish- 
ment. Found a letter from the mother 
of my ^^ measles " boy, who died. 

April 9, 1864. 
More rain, rain, rain. Lieutenant 
C called for a few moments be- 
fore dinner. Dr. Van Dyck inspected 
to-day. Played dominoes with two of 
my pet boys, after giving a number of 
[227] 



The Lady J^urse of Ward E 

them a nice relish at supper of dried 
beef and a can of Carrie Vander- 
burgh's cherries. Went to Ward C, 
where Sister Anna had gathered the 
hospital choir, ladies, surgeons, etc. 
As it was still raining hard, Patter- 
son insisted upon my wearing his rain- 
coat home. Found my room wet, with 
only one dry corner in it. 

April 10, 1864. 
Our soldiers were allowed to attend 
church outside, in charge of an orderly 
sergeant. The Protestants went to 
the Capitol to hear Edward Everett 
Hale, and, at the solicitation of the de- 
voted young' priest who visited our 
hospital, the Catholics went to their 
church. Eemained in ward until din- 
ner, although feeling ill and miserable. 
Most of the ladies went to the chapel 
in the evening to hear the Hon. Amasa 
J. Brooks, who was not very interest- 
ing. Preferred sitting in the lamp- 
light, after attending to the night 
medicines in the ward. The proposed 
visit to the President of Miss Merrill 
[228] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

and myself, accompanied by our 
friends, is not to be, as her young 
friend came to tell her to-day he was 
under marching orders — ^in fact, 
everything available seems to be. 

April 11, 1864. 
Am still weak and miserable, but 
went to the ward to see about the ex- 
tra orders, there is such a fuss about 
them. Miss Merrill's and Sister 
Piatt's orders were both returned to 
them yesterday. Our soldiers were 
allowed to go to the House to-day to 
hear Speaker Colfax's resolution to 
expel Long of Ohio for treasonable 
words discussed. Wrote letters for 
my " boys." 

April 12, 1864. 
Beautiful weather. Lieutenant 
C came in looking as fine as pos- 
sible, to see about the reception to the 
President, etc., but, being in a "fly- 
away" humor, he could not stay a 
moment. The daughter of Mrs. 
Jacobs, authoress of " Linda " (her 
own life when a slave), came to see 
Miss Francis, whose aunt, Lvdia 
[229] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Maria Child, edited the book. She 
has beautiful eyes and very pleasing 
manners. I believe she is teaching 
school. Mr. George Wood called in 
the evening and brought the Spirit of 
the Fair, the New York paper, which 
does not promise much. Wrote the 
following verse for the Gazette, which 
is printed by two young soldiers, 
and supervised by Mrs. Ingersoll of 
Maine : 

Spring has come with buds and flowers, 
Wakened up by April showers; 
Twilight lingers into even, 
Turning worldly thoughts to Heaven. 
Nature brightening seems to say: 
"Spring has come — why not be gay?" 

Ah! Nature smiles tho' War and Death 

Of home and friends have us bereft, 

And spectre-like on distant hills 

Sit with their train of human ills : 

Tho' War must rage and Death must come, 

To desolate the heart and home. 

Yes! Spring has come and kindly spread 
The soft green carpet for our tread; 
Her light o'er hill and vale is seen, 
But all her charms will fail to wean 
Our hearts to gladness, when so nigh 
The hour to sound the battle-cry. 
[230] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

We bless her as a friend who comes 
When Death has desolated homes, 
With words of comfort sweetly given 
To lift our eyes from earth to Heaven; 
We bless her, tho' she cannot save, 
She strews the daisies o'er the grave. 

But ask us not with hearts of glee 

To join in Nature's revelry. 

With brooks and birds and gayest floweri 

To pass in thoughtlessness the hours; 

The summer breeze we feel so nigh 

Will also bring the battle-cry. 
Armory Square, 
April, 1864. 

April 13, 1864. 
My " measles " boy is recovering 
and the ward is very comfortable. 

Dr. S , Patterson, and a number 

of others wrote to Kysor, to which I 
added a sheet, making quite a long let- 
ter; we also added a "round robin" 
for our late lamented lieutenant colo- 
nel. Went to the " Home " after tea, 
and sat with Sister Griggs, who is 
not well, in the lamplight, being indis- 
posed myself. Dr. Banister came in, 

and soon after Lieutenant C , who 

came to see if I would go to Ward G 

and hear the music being given by 

[231] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Miss Thomas and some friends, who 
sang a very pretty selection, ending 
with the " Young Eecruit," as usual 
to the delight of her large audience. 

April 14, 1864. 

This was a very busy morning, with 
a multitude of little things to attend 
to. I was anxious about the new order 
for the surgeons to make out the dis- 
charge papers of all our old wounded 
patients. After finishing in my ward 
took the " gruel " which I had made 
for Sister Griggs and myself to the 
" Home," hurriedly ate it, and went 
with Miss Ware (our new lady nurse, 
who takes Miss Francis's place) to 
the Capitol, where I succeeded at last 
in getting a standing place in the door- 
way, and remained half crushed for 
two hours; then was pushed to the 
steps, where I sat for two more hours, 
intensely interested in both Mr. Col- 
fax's and Mr. Long's speeches; the 
former in his usual easy amiable, 
earnest, clear ^nd sometimes eloquent 
manner; the^^ speech of the latter was 
[232] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

dignified and fearless, and bespoke 
one's sympathy and respect for 
everything but his misguided views 
and sympathy with the South. 
Neither speaker indulged in personal- 
ities, in striking contrast with Gar- 
rett Davis's vituperation. When I 
went to the ward I was astounded 
by the news that Patterson, our ward 
master, was in the Central Guard- 
house; his pass, which he did not ob- 
serve, had not received the stamped 
signature of Dr. Bliss, and when asked 
for it by the patrol, he showed it in all 
confidence, and was invited by them to 
go to the Central Guardhouse. He 
met some of our men and told them 
of his plight, and fortunately the lieu- 
tenant in command of the guardhouse 
was from our hospital, and knew and 
freed him immediately from his un- 
pleasant position. Dr. S went to 

see about it, too, but found that Pat- 
terson was out. I spent the evening 
with Sister Griggs at the " Home." 



[233] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

April 15, 1864. 
After the morning's duties, Dr. 

S , who plays the violin, asked me 

to try some music, and we practiced 
and played together, much to the 
amusement of our patients. Went on 
the avenue to change the rubber 
needle, of which I am to have a chain 
made. Eeceived a present of a beau- 
tiful little bracket with the badges of 
different army corps carved on it, 
made by one of my patients, and huge 
cakes of maple sugar. Sister South- 
wick decided to go to her home in 
Boston for a short visit, and left with 
one of her patients, in charge of a 
hospital car at five o'clock this even- 
ing. After bringing Sister Griggs's 
tea, I returned to the ward and 
played dominoes with No. 6. En- 
joyed my room, being alone to-night. 

April 16, 1864. . 

Another rainy day. Took leave of 

Miss Francis, who goes to Baltimore 

this evening on her way home. Ward 

E is at the zenith of its glory, for at 

[234] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

inspection Dr. Bliss said "it looked 
elegant," the floor was so white; and 
on his return, after telling the other 
ward masters to go and look at the 
floor and beds in E, told me that we 
took the palm from all the other 
wards. All this, I must confess, gave 
me a little pleasure to repeat at the 
tea table, and I feel that much of the 
praise is due to Patterson, our faith- ^/ 
ful and efficient ward master. In the 
evening, after giving my " boys " 
some music, went to Ward G and 
played for Miss Marsh, who has taken 
the piano from Ward K. 

April 17, 1864. 
Still showery. My " measles " boy 
is out of bed, so I have very little to 
be anxious about in my ward. Ser- 
geant Eeed and Kenser have received 
their discharge, and nearly all my old 
patients will soon be obliged to leave. 
It is about time for me to take a rest 
also. Concluded I was too weak and 
the weather too " Aprilish " to attend 
church, so refreshed myself by taking 
[235] 



The Lady^ Nurse of Ward E 

a "nap." In the afternoon I accom- 
panied Sister Griggs and Dr. Banis- 
ter to hear Dr. Baxter, who considers 
it his mission to tell us of the coming 
" Tribulation and the Battle of Armi- 
geddon," etc. I was interested but 
not converted to his peculiar views in 
reference to Louis Napoleon, etc. He 
preached in a church for colored peo- 
ple, and although half of the audience 
to-day were white, I was quite inter- 
ested in the other half. After leaving 
church I witnessed a dress parade 
of some of the Veteran Eeserve 
Corps stationed near by, reminding 
us that the army enjoyed very few 
Sabbaths. A fine, moonlight even- 
ing. 

April 18, 1864. 
One of my driving days. Went to 
see Mrs. Sampson about BrownelPs 
furlough, as he is so anxious to meet 
his brother in New York. Was con- 
stantly interrupted while attending to 
morning duties. Eeceived four of 
Ward D's patients, as they have bro- 
[236] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

ken up camp to-day. Went to the 
" Chateau," but found the workmen 
on our roof hammering with such 
violence, tearing off the old tarred pa- 
per and bringing down clouds of dirt 
and whitewash, etc., that I beat a re- 
treat, and having nowhere else to go, 
took some marrow into the chaplain's 

and asked Mrs. J to allow me to 

make my salve there. Eead " Linda " 
while waiting for it to cool. Eeceived 
my hat box from home and enjoyed its 
contents. Branch (my old " amputa- 
tion boy '' with a wooden leg, who has 
of late acted like the " old boy," hav- 
ing a few nights since climbed over 
and back the high fence topped with 
pickets about us) came down on his 
crutches to tell me that Miss Thomas 
wished to see me. I found her, and 
Miss Yateman also, who invited me, 
with Sister Griggs and Dr. Banister, 
to spend to-morrow evening at their 
house. Enjoyed some of the biscuits 
from home for my tea. Lieutenant 
C came in for a few moments, be- 
ing engaged to accompany some of 
[237] 



^ 



The Lady .Nurse of Ward E 

his brother officers to a ball at Cliff- 
burn Barracks. Found our house 
without a fire, consequently it was so 
comfortless, I went in pursuit of the 
general ward master and general 
night watch, and by ten o'clock ob- 
tained a little heat in the house. Miss 
Low's alcohol lamp and a cup of hot 
tea were our sole dependence for 
warmth. Mrs. Jackson came in to 

ask the favor of Sister S 's vacant 

bed for her sister, which I was happy 
to accord her for past favors. 

April 19, 1864. 
Sent orderly with note to see about 
Sister Southwick's box, which I was 
glad to find was safe and already ex- 
pressed to her. Sister G came in 

to say that the reception by the Presi- 
dent would be held that evening, so 
hurried through my morning duties. 
After dinner I prepared some things 
for the evening, and wore the pink 
dress, etc., my sisters kindly sent me. 

Sister G 's cousin came for us. Dr. 

Bobbins for some of the ladies, and 
[238] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Miss MerrilPs young soldier for her. 
We went at nine, and found more of a 
crowd than on New Year Day, and 
were more than an hour getting from 
the pavement to the President's hand. 
At the close of the evening Mrs. Lin- 
coln made the tour of the East Eoom 
with General Garfield and the Presi- 
dent, and a young lady whose name 
we did not ascertain. The flowers 
in the unique vases were superb. 
Eeached home ever so weary. Sister 

G offered me a hot punch, which 

I was glad to take, and then hurried 
to bed. 

April 20, 1864. 

Spent the day in bed, not having 
sufficient strength or energy to get 
up. Eead the whole of " Linda " from 
the beginning to the end, and found 
plenty of time to think besides. Later 
made " an effort," remembering Mrs. 
Chick's advice to Mrs. Dombey, put 
on a gown, and took tea with Sister 
Hill, who was also indisposed in the 
next room. Sister Griggs soon made 
[239] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

one of our party, and Mr. George 
Wood, who lent us his " Peter Schle- 
myl " a few days since, came in and 
spent the evening. Was surprised to 
receive Mr. EamsdelPs wedding cards. 

April 21, 1864. 
Arose bright and early, as the 
ladies reported more patients have ar- 
rived, and were still arriving when 
they left their wards, in all, about one 
hundred. I found we had seven, four 
very ill, and have of course been busy 
all day, having nineteen on special 
diet, and having given out over a hun- 
dred doses of medicine. One poor 
man, I fear, will never recover. Be- 
came disgusted and indignant about 
the beef tea arrangement, and after 
a visit to the special kitchen spoke my 
mind freely at our dinner table. 

Whereupon Miss L , who has 

charge of the special diet kitchen, left 
suddenly, like a gust of wind, and 
making only a slight rustle. I sus- 
pected she was en route for the sur- 
geon in charge, so I laid down knife 
[240] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

and fork and went after her, my deter- 
mined step following closely the deli- 
cate patter along the long corridor, 
until she, finding the surgeon had com- 
pany, turned about. I nevertheless 
passed in, and asked him to explain 
to me the necessary process to procure 
a little beef tea, etc. It was quite an 
amusing episode. I remained in my 
ward until three o'clock, then accom- 
panied Miss G to make our call 

on the Yatemans (neighbors), to 
acknowledge their kind invitation. 
Spent the evening endeavoring to add 
to the comfort of my four suffering 
patients, who have evidently not been 
used to much kindness of late, and 
are very grateful. Eeceived a sere- 
nade from our hospital band. 

April 22, 1864. 
Last evening I suddenly decided 
that I must have a rest and recruit 
before this terrible warfare is re- 
newed, and before our wards are 
again filled with wounded soldiers, as 
they were last May, after the battle 
[241] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

of Chancellorsville. Dr. Bliss, our 
surgeon in charge, has kindly given 
me leave of absence, so I take a morn- 
ing train to-morrow for New York. 
Happy thought! 

• < • • • 

May 6, 1864. 

Left home again at 6 p.m., for Wash- 
ington and hospital life, having re- 
ceived such a definite opinion from 
our surgeon in charge that I thought 
it best to make an appearance in 
Ward E before inspection to-morrow. 
My sisters accompanied me to the 
ferry, where Mr. Ogden met us. The 
night wore away at last, and at 6 
A.M. I reached Washington, took a 
city car, and soon walked into Ward 
E, where I surprised them making 
the beds, but received a very pleasant 
welcome. I went to the ladies' " Cha- 
teau," and giving a loud rap on the 
door Sister Hill came out and said, 
" I know Sister Akin has come," at 
which Sister Griggs came out en des- 
hahille with her kind welcome. 

During my absence " Spring has 
[242] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

passed down the vale, left her robe 
on the trees and her scent on the 
gale." The Smithsonian grounds 
seem in full leaf, and the grass and 
flowers between our wards, as there 
was none last summer, appear more 
beautiful to my eyes than anything 
else outside. I took breakfast, made 
hasty improvements in my toilet, and 
went to perform my morning duties in 
the ward. After shaking hands with 
all my old patients, I saw Dr. Bliss in 
passing the office; he greeted me 
pleasantly, and as soon as he came in 
the ward I made an apology for my 
prolonged absence, which he received 
graciously. 

After dinner was obliged to sweep 
my room before taking the rest so 
much needed. It is like midsummer 
weather outside. After tea gave my 
men some music, though I was glad I 
made arrangements to retire early 
for the night. 

May 8, 1864. 
Another hot day. Dr. Kennan is 
my surgeon pro tern. After din- 
[243] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

ner attended funeral services in the 
chapel of a soldier from Ward K. We 
have news of a battle in which General 
Grant is not only victorious, but is 
pursuing General Lee, and that one 
thousand wounded will be at the sta- 
tion to-night, whom our committee has 
orders to feed. We also hear that 
General Butler has routed Beaure- 
gard. 

May 9, 1864. 
None of our wounded is heard from, 
and fears are entertained that the 
guerrillas have intercepted them. Dr. 
Kennan reported ill, and Dr. Brinte 
made the rounds. Eeceived a young 
lady. Miss Cheney from Boston (in- 
troduced by the Hon. Mr. Lovejoy), 
who is anxious to be one of our sister- 
hood. The ward master received a 

note from Lieutenant C , which 

was sent by one of his men, saying he 
was in command of a company at 
Chain Bridge, and it might be some 
time before he could pay us a visit. 

Two hundred and fifty slightly 
:wounded arrived who gave thrilling 
[244] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

accounts of their falling in the hands 
of the rebels at Fredericksburg, while 
on their way here. The most severely 
wounded are still there, unable to es- 
cape. Supper was given to them in 
the cook-house, and some of them 
were sent to different wards. When 
they had passed through their ablu- 
tions and were ready for bed an 
order came that they were to go 
immediately to Carver Hospital. 
Fortunately none was sent into our 
ward, but Sister Hill was obliged to 
beg that a few might be allowed to re- 
main. Dr. Bliss introduced our new 
surgeon. Dr. Hurlburt, who made his 
rounds and seemed unusually pleas- 
ant. Dr. Bowen also arrived this 
evening with two other new surgeons. 
There is a report of Colonel Mil- 
lett's death, but we refuse to believe 
it. One of the Fifth Maine soldiers 
says he saw him charging at the head 
of a column; heart-sickening thought, 
though we cannot but admire the 
courage which meets this awful neces- 
sity. 

[245] 



The Lady Xurse of Ward E 

May 10, 1864. 
There is still no permanent sur- 
geon; Dr. Brinte made the rounds. 
Eeceived a call from Miss Gillies and 
an army officer, who brought me a 
basket of beautiful flowers and two 
large dishes of blanc-mange. After 
tea, arranged myself in my new full 
y uniform, and went with Sister Hill to 
call upon Mr. and Mrs. Ramsdell, our 
head clerk and his bride, who are liv- 
ing opposite the Smithsonian. 

May 11, 1864. 
Received an early call from a 
Brooklyn lady with a note from Dr. 
Storrs asking me to aid her to find 
her son (Sergeant O^Connor) among 
the wounded of the late battle. Went 
with her to Ward F, where a few of 
them were allowed to remain, but 
failed to find him. Took her to 
breakfast, and, after leaving direc- 
tions and executive order with No. 6, 
accompanied her to Carver Hospital, 
where we found him. He was slightly 
wounded in the head, and was a very 
[246] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

intelligent man, who gave ns a 
minute account of his journey from 
the battlefield, fighting with the guer- 
rillas, etc., and showed us the slippers 
he wore all the way, having given his 
gaiters to his lieutenant. We also 
met an interesting soldier in the car, 
Lewis Bradley, of Newburgh, who said 
General Sedgwick's remains came up 
that morning with him. 

Eeturning, on my way to the ward 
I met Lieutenant Conyers coming in 
the gate; he remained a half hour. 
The wounded were coming in all day. 
One ward received fifty, and a thou- 
sand more are expected to-morrow. 
Dr. Hunger was assigned to our ward. 
Eeceived a letter from Leech (No. 17 
so long) and a pretty present of an 
ornament of spun glass from my 
musical German, Graffleman, formerly 
employed in a glass factory in New 
Jersey and just returned from fur- 
lough. Was sorry to hear that young 
Best, who occupied the bed next to 
my table for a month, was the first 
man killed in his company. 
[247] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

May 12, 1864. 

There was a severe thundershower 
after dinner, and the ambulances were 
passing and stopping all day. All 
who came to onr ward yesterday, ex- 
cepting four, were but slightly wound- 
ed, and, with a few convalescents, 
were transferred to a tent ward. Re- 
ceived six more severely wounded pa- 
tients, two lieutenants and two ser- 
geants. There was one amputation 
after dinner. 

Went with Sister Griggs to see 
Brigadier General Sedgwick's re- 
mains, but found only Brigadier Gen- 
erals Hayes and Stephenson and Col- 
onel Chapman at the embalmer's. 
General Sedgwick's body was sent 
North last evening. Sister Southwick 
is at last really going to the front 
with Miss H. Fanning Read, who ob- 
tained a pass for her from the sur- 
geon general to Fredericksburg, to- 
morrow. Received a present of a 
beautiful bouquet from my young 
Bohemian night watch. 

[248] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

May 13, 1864. 

Our attendants, etc., were up all 
night bringmg in and taking care of 
the wounded, who have been coming 
in all day. 

We received twenty-eight new pa- 
tients, among them Major Draper,* 
of the Thirty-sixth Massachusetts, 
and Captain Dwight, One Hundred 
and Twenty-second New York, and 
two rebels — one a conscript ; the other 
seems to have enlisted from a serious 
conviction of duty; he has been in 
eight battles, but is pleasantly dis- 
posed and reconciled to his fate, un- 
like the others I have seen. 

It made me feel sick and weak when 
I went into the ward to see almost 
every bed filled with a new patient 
and with a ghastly wound. Fortu- 
nately it was a rainy day, and Sister 

S and Miss R could not 

leave to-day. Mr. Fuller, a New 
York agent, who came from Freder- 
icksburg, was in here, and says that 

♦Afterwards Governor of Massachusetts and 
Ambassador to Italy. 

[249] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

the corduroy road from Belle Plain 
to Fredericksburg is in very bad con- 
dition, and many of the wounded are 
lying in the streets, and the people 
there (mostly Secessionists) will not 
furnish them with either food or ban- 
dages. 

Have thirty patients on special 
diet, for whom I was obliged to pre- 
scribe, as the surgeon has two more 
tent wards. Mrs. Senator Lane (our 
early friend) brought newspapers and 
oranges. 

May 14, 1864. 

Sister Southwick left for the front. 
Major Draper's wife arrived. She is 
a lovely woman, and it is quite affect- 
ing to see them together. There was 
no inspection to-day. Mailed a letter 
home. Miss McClellan, daughter of 
v^ the Assistant Postmaster General, 
who is to take Sister Southwick's 
ward and place in my room, came to- 
day. Went to market after tea to get 
some oranges for Lieutenant Bly, 
who suffers so much. 

[250] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

May 15, 1864. 

Sunday, but had no outward rest. 
Miss Stephens, daughter of the nov- 
elist, and a friend came in with Dr. 
Bliss. 

The Maine Artillery from Fort 
Sumner passed. It is a fine regiment. 
Miss Griggs's cousin. Lieutenant 
Colonel Talbot, was with them; he 
waved her an adieu as he passed, and 
I realize now daily the pathos of the 
** Soldier's Last Farewell." 

May 16, 1864. 

Dr. Bliss examined Lieutenant 
Bly's arm and said it must be ampu- 
tated immediately. An exciting day. 
A new patient. Lieutenant Grenier 
of the Fifth Maine, a friend of Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Millett, arrived. An- 
other new surgeon added to the staff, 
Dr. Coolidge, of Boston. He is a very 
pleasant, gentlemanly man; knows 
nothing of hospital regulations, but 
has much enthusiasm and sympathy. 
I was glad to have him attend to many 
of the patients who I felt were neg- 
[251] 



\y 



The Lady. Nurse of Ward E 

lected, though his unsystematic way 
gives us unnecessary .work. Went 
with Sister Griggs to the Smithsonian 
a few moments before dark, and read 
a note she had received from Dr. Ban- 
ister, her former surgeon, who is now 
at Belle Plain dressing wounds (as 
the wounded pass there) ; he has not 
had his clothes off since he left here. 

I fear Lieutenant Bly's hours are 
numbered. He cannot take stimu- 
lants. Sent to Mrs. Senator Lane to 
purchase a bottle of champage for 
him, which she sent without charge. 
Another artillery regiment passed for 
the front. 

May 17, 1864. 

Felt quite ill, but managed to 
keep about. Eeceived a note from 
Sister Southwick, who has reached 
Fredericksburg, and answered it by 
the Massachusetts agent, who re- 
turned to-day. The lieutenant is very 
low. Was delighted to find we have 
an assistant chaplain, Eev. Mr. 
Crocker, who belongs to one of the 
New York regiments and knows Lieu- 
[252] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

tenant Bly, having belonged to his 
brigade, the Ninth New York Cavalry. 
Dr. Bliss was flying about all day 
with his ease of instruments ; he came 
into our ward and in five minutes ex- 
tracted a ball from a wound. The 
weather is fine once more. After tea 
went to the armory to see how it had ^ 
been arranged for the wounded ; when 
I returned found Lieutenant Ely's bed 
had been carried out, for his spirit 
had suddenly taken flight. Wrote out 
some of the bed cards which Dr. Hun- 
ger left for me, as I unfortunately 
promised to assist him. 

May 18, 1864. 

Very warm weather again. Fifteen 
patients transferred to Philadelphia, 
making a morning of confusion. Be- 
ing so late from the battlefield, they 
had no clothes, and we were obliged ^ 
to draw on our stock here. Supplied 
many with shirts and stockings from 
my own store. 

Received an amusing letter from 
" Fees." Misses Thomas and Martin 
[253] 



v/ 



The Lady. Nurse of Ward E 

came to the house to see me and of- 
fered their services. A very pleasant 
lady, Mrs. Clark, comes in and really 
does some good waiting upon the pa- 
tients who are suffering. She sent 
me to-day a nice tin tea kettle. Our 
men sent away in the morning re- 
turned before supper, unable to get 
transportation. I sent them to the 
armory to sleep, as their beds were 
made up clean, ready for those ex- 
pected to-night. We have already re- 
ceived six new patients ; they are very 
low; two have been amputated and 
three shot through the lungs. One is 
a poor rebel boy, only eighteen, from 
Louisiana; he looks so pitiful and 
grateful for every little kindness 
which he does not expect. 

Eetired, worn with the sight and 
sound of suffering. 

May 19, 1864. 

This was the most wearisome and 
exciting day I have had yet. The 
wounded came at all hours. Dr. Coo- 
lidge went through the entire ward 
making many changes and new pre- 
[254] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

scriptions, and while wondering how 
I could obtain all of the diet, with un- 
uttered prayers in my heart to be able 
to do more for their comfort, seeing 
the need of so much, a letter was 
brought to me containing a check for 
one hundred dollars from Mr. Simp- 
son, of Hudson, and his friend Mr. 
Lamson, of New York. That was too 
much for overtaxed nerves, and the 
tears, which had been kept under con- 
trol amid all I had witnessed for so 
many days, would come, after which 
luxury I took up my sad work with 
renewed spirit and energy. Ladies 
came in with lemons and oranges ; one 
with lemonade for the whole ward. 

Lieutenant Ely's wife arrived this 
morning, she evidently not having re- 
ceived the last telegram; as the lieu- 
tenant's body had been sent home yes- 
terday, she returned immediately to 
the train, leaving a request with Mrs. 
Chaplain Jackson that I would be 
kind enough to write to her. Am 
happy to find we have an assistant 
chaplain who is faithful in his duties ; 
[255] 



The Lady. Nurse of Ward E 

he formerly belonged to a New York 
regiment, the same brigade as Lieu- 
tenant Bly. He recognized him, and 
it was gratifying to see him in prayer 
by his bedside before his death. 

Lieutenant C came, not having 

returned to the bridge since Tuesday 
from the barracks in Georgetown. 
Misses Stephens and Binn came in 

and brought Mrs. S 's last novel 

and a great variety of papers. With 
the interruptions, thought I would 
never get the diet list made out, which 
was at last sent in at three o'clock. 
The butter was not fit to eat at supper, 
and we had it reported ; fortunately I 
had been to the market this morning 
and purchased some. I went to the 
" Home " at four to rest a few mo- 
ments, and after tea to the Smith- 
sonian grounds with Sister Griggs, 
feeling an oppressive want of fresh 
air. Played for my men instead of 
making out bed cards, as I saw them 
watching my movements, and when I 
went to the piano they exclaimed, 
" That's what we want ! " 
[256] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

May 20, 1864. 
Two of our patients that came in 
last died to-day, one in the night and 
one of the amputated men just before 
dinner. Beautiful weather; the tide 
of visitors was tremendous ; Dr. Bliss 
said there were fifteen hundred at 
supper-time; it seemed as if I were 
holding a reception. Miss Welles, 
daughter of the Secretary of the 
Navy, whom I have not seen since last 
summer, with a friend, came and of- 
fered their services to write letters. 
Four men from New York and Brook- 
lyn shook hands with me, and one 
benevolent-looking man parted the 
hair on my forehead, and, having as- 
certained that I had no relations in 
the army, said, " She is here just to do 
her duty." One lady was singing at 
the piano and the rest of the visitors 
promenaded, while I gave out twenty- 
eight special diets, and amid such a 
confusion it was difficult to keep my 
wits. Fortunately our ward had been 
cleaned thoroughly, the first time in a 
fortnight. 

[257] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Mrs. Governor Morgan, a stout 
lady, with a profusion of diamonds, 
called in the morning and brought 
some lemons, etc. Drs. Stuart and 
Banister returned to-day ; their wards 
gave them a cordial welcome, and I 
confess I shall be thankful to see Dr. 
Stuart in charge of our ward again. 

Had a talk with Captain Dwight, 
who is very modest and pleasant. It 
is no trouble to wait upon him. 

May 21, 1864. 
Dr. Coolidge, of Boston, made the 

morning rounds, but Dr. S came 

in the evening. Dr. Bliss denied all 
J visitors who came out of curiosity, at 
which order we were much relieved. 
There was no inspection, although 
many of the ladies went up expecting 
it. After supper I could not refuse 
to give my patients some music, al- 
though I was very weary, and was 
glad when Mr. and Mrs. Ramsdell 
came in and the latter relieved me. 



[258] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

May 22, 1864. 

Our duties seem lightened already 
with Dr. Stuart in the ward. Dr. Coo- 
lidge expressed much interest and re- 
gret at leaving the patients. The 
wounded from the First Maine Ar- 
tillery, which passed so proudly just 
a week to-day, were brought in and 
taken to the armory. The whole 
regiment were in the engagement on 
Thursday and badly cut up. One 
soldier with a fractured limb was 
brought to us. 

Having made a chair comfortable 
with the long cushion I brought from 
home for my own use, I was glad to 
see it enjoyed both by Major Draper 
and Captain Robinson when they were 
able to sit up. The weather was very 
warm. I succeeded in dispatching a 
letter to my good friend, Mr. Simp- 
son, which relieved my mind. 

Visitors were generally denied ad- 
mission, but many went through the 
wards. The new chaplain held serv- 
ice. Managed to secure a few mo- 
ments' leisure, and had a pleasant talk 
[259] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

with Lieutenant Grenier (convales- 
cent), who gave me his carte de visit e, 
^ and promised to send a cribbage 
board, etc. No. 44, in whom the chap- 
lain of his regiment and I have been 
greatly interested, died suddenly be- 
fore I left. 

May 23, 1864. 
Captain Dwight of the One Hun- 
dred and Twenty-second New York 
Eegiment left for home. Used my gas 
n/ stove, purchased yesterday. It is cer- 
tainly a great invention and con- 
venience. Went to our quarters, but 
could not sleep. 

May 24, 1864. 
No. 45 very low, and will scarcely 
survive the night. He dictated a very 
affecting letter to Assistant Chaplain 
Crocker for his wife. He is Andrew 
Twitchell, private. Thirty-sixth Mich- 
igan Cavalry. Mr. Clapp and friends 
from Yonkers called. 

May 25, 1864. 
Sent an ivory cross a soldier made 
and a letter to Sister Gulie. More 
[260] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

wounded arrived, among them three 
captains and one lieutenant. Our No. 
45 (while I was supporting his head) 
suddenly breathed his last. 

May 27, 1864. 
Fifteen patients were transferred 
to Philadelphia. Others were brought 
in to fill their places, with still worse 
wounds, uncared for and unwashed; 
they were well-nigh dead from the 
toils of their journey. Wrote a let- 
ter for No. 12, who found his broth- 
er's name among the wounded at 
another hospital. Sent No. 6 (my 
orderly) to hunt him up, who discov- 
ered him only to find that he was just 
carried out for a second amputation. 
Miss Welles came to write letters, and 
I managed to write to the wife of No. 
45, who died two days since, and to 
Lieutenant Ely's widow. Returned to 
the " Home " at 5 p.m. 

May 28, 1864. 
Major Draper had so improved that 
he left to join his wife at the hotel. 
No. 25 died during the night. No. 44 
[261] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

was bleeding and very weak. I went 
to market, and on my return found 
ten more wounded had been brought 
in. Our dresser is tired out. Was all 
day in the ward, and the air was foul 
and dreadful. Captain Dewey was 
very pleasant. Captain Brooks of 
the Twelfth New Jersey Eegiment is 
like a spoiled child, but he will soon 
" find his bearings." He told his at- 
tendant to tell " her " to make him 
some lemonade, which I did and sent 
it by the attendant, with directions, in 
sufficiently clear tone, to take it to No. 
12, after which he called me by name 
and we became good friends. 

A number of patients went to 
Mount Pleasant Hospital to relieve 
the crush at our hospital. 

May 29 and 30, 1864. 
Kept no record of these two days' 
doings, having neither the time nor 
the strength. 

May 31, 1864. 
The arrival of relatives only to find 
their dear ones had passed " beyond 
[262] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

the smiling and the weeping," be- 
yond all pain and weariness, is one y 
of the most mmerving of trials we are 
called upon to meet. Summer is here, 
and the stoves were all removed this 
morning. 

I obtained a special pass for Lieu- 
tenant Grenier. Borrowed Sister 
HilPs rolling chair for Captain Kob- 
inson, who is convalescing slowly, and 
went with him to our " Chateau" (as 
our French friend, Dr. Alcan, calls 
our domicile), where I treated the 
captain to claret and crackers. Mrs. 
Draper called, and I accompanied her 
to the office, where we found the ma- 
jor, who was quite Chesterfieldian in 
his manner of bidding adieu. Mrs. 
Draper gave me his photograph for 
my album. 

Copy of a letter written in hot haste 
about May 30, 1864, during the Battle 
of the Wilderness. It was written by 
Sister Helen Griggs of Ward A to 
Sister Anna Piatt of Ward C, who 
had left to recruit: 

[263] 



The Lady .Nurse of Ward E 

Our Room, Ten O 'Clock. 
I am tired to death, and an awful 
" gabbling " going on in the next room, 
as six new nurses have been engaged 
temporarily for the extra tent wards ; 
some with dreadful voices. That is 
the date of my letter. 

My Dear Mrs. Metternich: 

(As you do not appreciate the Tal- 
leyrand title, perhaps you will this.) 
I have left the man with one elephant 
in the dim, far distance, as I now have 
a dozen on my hands, and six dozen 
on my brain ; not elephants, but levia- 
thans and megatheriums — all those 
big, huge antediluvians that scare you 
to look at them. 

I cannot write a connected letter; I 
lost my senses two weeks ago and 
haven't known my own name for a 
week. I cannot begin to tell you of 
what we are going through. Miss Hill 
and Miss Akin say the number of 
wounded after Chancellorsville was 
nothing; was mere play to what this 
is. Oh! they are piled in on us till 
[264] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

one's heart sinks, and I, who am good 
in emergencies, energetic (and "walk 
like seven men," I am aware), slink 
up to the door of my ward and stand 
there, dreading to go in, feeling as if I 
were a baby and that I would give a 
fortune to be well out of it. I know I 
have utterly mistaken my calling, as I 
cannot get used to seeing the entire 
anatomy of the human frame every 
time I turn around, and am altogether 
demented. (Now don't you see I am, 
by that sentence?) My only consola- 
tion is that the other ladies all feel so, 
too. Miss Merrill, whose mother is 
here. Miss Hill, a host in herself, and 
Miss Akin, all say and feel that their 
burden is greater than they can bear. 
I am glad for your sake you are not 
here; you could not stand it, even 
with those powders of Dr. Alcan. The 
odor is awful; the cases are all bad. 
I have had four deaths already, and 
there are forty-five dead to-day, two 
tents full beside the Dead House. 
The chapel is full of beds, and has 
been for weeks ; Mrs. Wilson presides 
[265] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

there and cooks for them herself. (Of 
course, the end of all approaches 
when she gets to work.) 

Yon speak of the melodeon; it has 
never been thought of, and presume it 
has been confiscated long ago. We 
work hard, our beds are not made un- 
til we go down at " Taps." So many 
special diet meals are delayed at that 
"infernal" Special Kitchen (excuse 
me) till we are frantic. Dinner to- 
day for those poor sick men was 
served at half past two, supper at 
7.30 ; gaslight and the " extras " still 
worse. Dr. Bliss allows far more lati- 
tude in beef tea and punch on our own 
orders and the extra diet not signed 
by him. Still, we are put off by those 
" fiends " who preside in that kitchen 
until everybody becomes exhausted 
and cross. 

Officers now abound; I have five, 
Ward H twelve, Ward I fourteen. 
Ward K thirteen; they pay a dollar 
per day and have their meals served 
like the surgeons, which makes the 
third dinner to be prepared. Keally 
[266] 




NURSES 
Miss H. Griggs 
Miss A. Akin Miss S. E. Marsh 

Miss A. M. Hill 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

the care and confusion is immense — I 
am not exaggerating. My " ele- 
phants " have arrived, three in one 
week: a barrel of crackers and two 
huge boxes from my New York broth- 
er, the boxes containing pineapples, 
oranges, bananas, lemons, figs, prunes, 
claret, sherry, brandy, etc. My broth- 
er at home sent me fifty dollars, other 
Boston men seventy. New York ten, 
and a cousin ten — one hundred and fif- 
ty dollars in all. I gave ten dollars to 
Ward C in memory of its " angel." 
Miss Israel does well there. Your 
" Albert " is doing fine ; he is walking 
about. I have a chair like Miss 
Marsh's, that cost fifty dollars, and it 
is well worth it to the poor fellows. 



May 31, 1864. 
Captain Dewey's father came; 
found they were from Brooklyn. 
Went with Sister Hill to Smithsonian 
grounds for a few moments. She 
would not allow me to invite Lieuten- 
ant ^renier to accompany us, who 
[267] 



The Lady. Nurse of Ward E 

now convalescent, was sitting outside, 
though he was evidently ready. 

June 1, 1864. 
Mrs. Senator Lane, Mrs. Usher, 
Mrs. Ann S. Stephens, the authoress, 
with otlier ladies, brought some straw- 
berries, which I was glad to see my 
soldiers enjoy. It is clearing up gen- 
erally. Ventilators were taken out. 
Assisted the ward master in covering 
the gas fixtures. Went to Dr. Bliss 
about No. 38's arm, as he begged me 
last night to have something done. On 
examination. Dr. Bliss said he must 
V go on the table at once; so he has lost 
an arm, but is much more comfort- 
able. No. 48 died very suddenly; he 
was brought in only yesterday. Lieu- 
tenant Grenier and Captain Eobinson, 
both of the Fifth Maine, went to a pri- 
vate boarding house. Their company 
was mostly filled with men of posi- 
tion and education. 

June 2, 1864. 
There is a sudden change in the 
weather ; it is quite chilly, and our pa- 
[268] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

tients feel the coolness sensibly. My 
boy with the amputated arm has had a 
chill, which always alarms me. Went 
out marketing in the morning and 
brought home a treat of strawberries, 
lettuce, etc., for my fourteen attend- 
ants. Five patients were transferred 
to New York. Captain Dewey's father 
gave me a bottle of brandy and sev- 
eral bowls of jelly which he brought 
with him. 

Eeceived a letter from William 
Dart, offering to give employment to 
some of my disabled soldiers, and 
from Leech (No. 17 so long), who has 
gone to Wisconsin, enclosing his carte 
de visite, 

June 3, 1864. 

I hurried through my morning du- 
ties, as the ward was to be cleaned. 
Lieutenant Grenier came in, and I 
chatted with him at the window on my 
way to the " Home." He invited me 
to call and see him in F Street. My 
boy with the amputated arm is doing 
very well to-day. A surgeon in 
charge of the Second Corps Hospital 
[269] 



The Lady. Nurse of Ward E 

called in the morning to say he 
brought news direct from Miss 
Southwick, and would come again in 
the afternoon, which he did. She has 
been his right-hand man, and he could 
scarcely say enough of her capability 
and usefulness. He is here on sick 
leave, and brought his brother, who is 
convalescing from smallpox. He in- 
vited me and, through me. Sister 
Griggs to take a drive to-morrow, 
which, considering the circumstances 
(versus our short acquaintance), I ac- 
cepted. Sister S sent a note to 

me from the heights of Fredericks- 
burg, where the battle was fought 
last summer. 

Not feeling very well after tea, I 
went with Sister Hill and Miss Put- 
nam for an outing in the cars to get 
some fresh air. The ward master had 
the nets put over the beds, and Dr. 
Bliss complimented our ward again. 

Lieutenant G came to see us, and 

said he was obliged to accompany 

me to the " Home " to get one of my 

photographs. Dr. Sawyer took us out 

[270] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

for a drive througli the Corcoran 
grounds (now Harewood Hospital), ^ 
which we enjoyed immensely. We 
drove to the Soldiers' Home, the Pres- 
ident's summer home, etc. ; passed Dr. ^ 
Stone's grounds, which he offered to 
the Government, and where the Sev- 
enth Eegiment of New York encamped 
when here. Dr. S was very talk- 
ative and pleasant, and picked us bou- 
quets of honeysuckle and wild roses. 
The drive lasted three hours. On re- 
turning to the ward I found that two 
of my patients had each a foot taken 
off, and was much surprised that Cap- 
tain Brooks was one of them. After 
tea, when suffering, I went to him and, 
endeavoring to forget his want of 
courtesy, put him to sleep by strok- 
ing his temples; as soon as he awoke 
I was sent for and requested to put 
him to sleep again; so think I shall 
have plenty to do if he is to be mesmer- 
ized often. The other amputations of 
to-day are doing well, but my placid 
one had another chill. No. 6 brought 
me a bunch of magnolia blossoms. 
[271] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

June 5, 1864. 
Hurried through the morning du- 
ties, thinking to attend church in the 
afternoon, but, after waiting to have 
services in my ward, I found myself 
too tired. Four of the ladies are ill at 
the house. Miss Israel and Mrs. Sen- 
ator Hawley with sore throats, resem- 
bling diphtheria. Dr. Bliss came down 
and made his inspection rounds. Took 
a siesta (if that term be allowable for 
a hospital nurse), then put on my 
" New York toilet," according to Sis- 
ter Griggs, and went to see Captain 
Eobinson and Lieutenant Grenier, as 
I promised them I would before they 
left. Found the captain still in bed, 
but hoping to leave for home to-mor- 
row, and both exceedingly polite and 
appreciative of my visit. Found a 
very pretty bouquet of roses on my 
table, with the compliments of my old 
No. 6 (Dahle). 

June 6, 1864. 
Lieutenant Sabin left for his Michi- 
gan home, and one of my fourteen am- 
putation patients (No. 17), successor 
[272] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

to Leech, left also with his wife. 
There were plenty of visitors again. 
Weather is exceedingly warm. Lieu- 
tenant Grenier came down early to 
spend the forenoon, and bade us adieu 
with many expressions of thanks for 
himself and Captain Robinson. When 
I went to see about No. 12's dinner I 
found him failing very fast — in fact 
dying. I sent away his beef tea, etc., 
and went for the doctor to see if any- 
thing could be done for him. He was 
delirious, but I think knew me, as the 
last rational thing he said was he 
wished to have me give him his dinner, 
and afterwards he took my hand and 
put it to his lips. Poor fellow! He 
asked me a few days since if I kept the 
address for a letter to his parents, so 
in case anything happened to him I 
could write to them in Paterson. The 
ward master came to relieve me, as 
the attendant was too much engaged ; 
he told me to go to the house^ as he 
knew this was the time I usually went, 
and, besides, the man was so delirious 
I could do him no good. A severe 
[273] 



The Lady .Nurse of Ward E 

thundershower detained me a few mo- 
ments, and when I returned he had 
been carried out. 

The father of my boy with the am- 
putated arm, about whom we are 
so anxious, arrived to-night. A sad 
meeting it was, but he was thankful to 
find his son alive. Lieutenant Crosby 
hobbled down to my desk this evening 
— a little lonely, I imagine — and asked 
if I knew of a Shakespeare that he 
could get. He seems to be as fond of 
reading as his aunt, Mrs. Ingersoll, 
widow of the Attorney General of 
Maine. 

June 7, 1864. 

A sudden change in the weather 
again, it being quite cool. Although 
not feeling well, I nevertheless went 
to market for eggs, as I am giving 
two of our patients port wine and 
egg three times a day. 

Sent No. 6 to find the brother of No. 
12, who died yesterday; but, as the 
brother is lying severely wounded at 
Campbell Hospital, they could not tell 
him the sad news. What a burden of 
[274] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

grief for their parents ! Dr. Bliss ex- 
amined No. ll's leg and advised him 
to have it amputated, leaving to Dr. 
S and myself the task of reconcil- 
ing him to the operation. I talked to 
him till he smiled through his tears; 
tried to be brave and think it was for 
the best, although it was unexpected 
to him and, in fact, to me, as I sup- 
posed it was doing well. 

Mrs. Governor Morgan made me a 
long visit, and brought a jar of pick- 
les. Miss Merrill fainted this morn- 
ing, and is quite ill. Some one sent a 
quantity of roses, and Lieutenant 
Crosby assisted me to arrange them. 
As he has not required much atten- 
tion, I was surprised at his effort to 
make himself so agreeable. Captain 
Dewey rode out in Sister Griggs's 
rolling chair, and Captain Brooks is 
more tractable. 

Went to the armory for the first 
time. Could scarcely realize before 
that it held such a little world of suf- 
fering. Found Mr. George Wood and 

Sister G calling on Mrs. General 

[275] 



The Lady -Nurse of Ward E 

V Hawley, wife of the Senator from 
Connecticut, who is lady nurse in 
charge. Dr. Van Slyck was unusually 
polite, and entertained me a while. 
I went to the third story, and was re- 
ceived by Dr. Kincade. I was taken 
around his ward, and there found 
Charlie M., one of our old patients, 
an attendant, although he limps yet. 
When I returned I found our boy 
No. 34, in whom we are all so much 
interested, was bleeding. No. 6 and 
I both flew after Dr. Stuart and the 
officer of the day. Am fearful he will 
not survive the night. Gave some 
wine to his poor father, who looked 
wretched, scarcely knowing where to 
turn. No. 11' s leg amputated, and is 
now quite comfortable. 

June 8, 1864. 
There is a vacant place, as I feared, 
and the poor father could only grasp 
our hands in mute despair. Made 
meal gruel of that which Fanny Dart 
sent me, fortunately having a little 
left for my own breakfast and Miss 
Merrill's, who is better. 
[276] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

The wounded were brought in. We 
received one patient, Captain Eey- 
nolds, Acting Assistant Adjutant Gen- 
eral on General Stedman's staff, on 
whose arm an operation was per- 
formed immediately after dinner. 
The ward master quite unwell, and 
went out for fresh air. As No. 6 was 
engaged with them during the " resec- 
tion," I remained in the ward wait- 
ing upon everybody until nearly five, 
when I became exhausted. Captain 
Brooks's cousin came in with straw- 
berries and dinner for two, and fussed 
in our and other wards all the after- 
noon. Made some more of my good 
gruel and sent some to Miss Israel in 
my cup with flags; sent also some to 
No. 11, being the only thing he has 
kept on his stomach to-day. (I fear 
he will go like the rest.) It seems to 
me an almost hopeless task to begin 
the usual system of medical treatment 
in such a condition. Made some corn- 
starch to treat my captain, but found 
it more of a task than I imagined over 
a gas stove. Just as I was leaving 
[277] 



s/ 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

the ward, having been on my feet most 
of the day, a troop of ladies from 
Willard^s Hotel came with strawber- 
ries to treat the hospital, with which, 
as usual, we were obliged to submit 
to their fashionable airs and want of 
sense. As an operation was going on 
in the dining room, they could not 
have dishes, to distribute themselves, 
and, having been to all the other 
wards, they were getting tired of it 
all, and left me to take charge of the 
distribution. I covered and left them 
until I returned to give out the special 
diet. Had just reached my room in 
the house to rest a moment when 

Lieutenant C came in. Sister 

Griggs entertained him until I was 
dressed. He is still waiting orders for 
the " front." 

A new patient was admitted yester- 
day (a hospital steward) who plays 
the piano very well. 

June 9, 1864. 

Found the spirits of ammonia or- 
dered last evening had the desired 
effect on No. 11 and quieted his nau- 
[278] 



v/ 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

sea, so he was able to take a little 
stimulant and seems much brighter. 
Eeceived a letter from Sister South- 
wick, who has reached White House 
Landing on the Pamunkey Eiver. 
Mrs. Governor Morgan paid me an- 
other visit and brought fresh eggs '^ 
and fine large strawberries, to which 
I do not object as she does not worry 
me about dispensing them. Also an 
amiable elderly lady, Mrs. Grisley, 
came with her son, brought beefsteak, 
rolls, and coffee with accompaniments. 
This enabled me to treat all my pa- 
tients in the ward at dinner, which 
was abominably late, and minus the 
beef -tea ; nobody can tell why. 

Captain Eeynolds is from New 
York, and is exceedingly modest and 
considerate. His father is wanting 
something constantly, though very 
anxious not to make trouble. Suc- 
ceeded in writing to Sister Southwick. 

Called at the chaplain's a few mo- 
ments to see Lieutenant Colonel Mil- 
lett, who has at last arrived, wounded, 
but, am happy to say, only slightly 
[279] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

in the lower part of his left arm. Dr. 
Baxter is with the Fifth Army Corps, 
which accomits for Sister Southwick's 
change of base. 

June 10, 1864. 

After dinner went out shopping, 
bought a table for Captain Brooks, 
wine for Captain Dewey, and went to 
the Sanitary for india-rubber rings, 
etc., for the soldiers; on my return 
found three more officers in our ward, 
one captain and two lieutenants. No 
beef -tea, and everything about the of- 
ficers^ diet in utter confusion. Wrote 
to No. 12's father and enclosed some 
of his hair and their letter and some 
money. 

June 11, 1864. 

Feeling very wretched I sent for 
Antoine to bring my breakfast. Did 
not go to the ward until ten o'clock. 
Miss Read's servant brought me a let- 
ter from Sister Southwick, who is liv- 
ing in a tent; very interesting, and 
written while she was waiting for her 
breakfast to cook. No. 15, whose old 
father has been so devoted, is not im- 
[280] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

proving, and is fearful of typhoid 
fever; but No. 11, whose limb was 
amputated, doing finely. Nos. 3 and 
44 cannot last long. Went out after 
tea with Miss McClellan to market 
and for a diary to send to Sister 
Southwick, to which I added a note. 
Miss Israel returned from the Sol- 
diers' Home, where she has been 
spending a few days to recruit. Miss 
Merrill has also gone to Mrs. HalPs, 
where her mother is stopping at 
present. 

June 12, 1864. 
Was too weary to get up and re- 
mained in bed until ten o'clock, when 
I felt much better and was ready for 
my day's work. There was one death 
toward evening. No. 44, a young Ger- 
man, who could scarcely speak Eng- 
lish, so was obliged to have other 
German patients to act as interpret- 
ers. He was too weak when he came 
in to have his leg amputated, which 
was in a frightful condition. The 
church bells and the pleasant cessa- 
tion of the street cars alone reminded 
[281] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

lis that it was the Sabbath day. It is 
hopeless to think of going to church, 
and there is too much confusion in our 
ward to hold services. Four new pa- 
tients were brought in about noon; 
many more in the hospital, and hun- 
dreds on their way. Weather is quite 
cool. 

In Ward A, among the wounded, 
are the colonel, major and adjutant 
of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts, 
and the lieutenant colonel was left 
on the field. The colonel brought in 
the flagstaff with a very small piece 
of the flag under which they had 
fought so bravely. Eeceived a letter 
from Miss Fox to Sister Southwick in 
which she says that her brother, 
Lieutenant Colonel Fox, was wounded 
again and is in a hospital at Chat- 
tanooga. 

June 13, 1864. 

Mailed a letter to Sister Cornelia. 
No. 24, who came in yesterday, died 
suddenly. Found a friend of Miss 
Griggs at dinner (Miss Franky John- 
son from Guilford), who is engaged 
[282] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

to a brother of H. Ward Beecher, 
colonel of a colored regiment in Flor- 
ida. She is here endeavoring to get 
a pass from Secretary Stanton to go 
to Hilton Head to meet her betrothed 
and have their marriage consum- 
mated. Mrs. Senator Lane and her 
sister, Mrs. General Wallace, came to 
see me; had not met the latter since 
her marriage. In the evening I went 
to the National Hotel to return their 
visit. No. 6 coming for me at nine. 
Garrett Davis (son of the Kentucky 
Senator) came in with others. 

June 14, 1864. 
Lieutenant Gibson is delirious; I 
sent a telegram to his wife. No. 30 is 
very low. Had a severe headache and 
was obliged to go to our " Home " 
soon after dinner. Too ill to take my 
tea. No. 6 came down and I sent him 
for a pail of hot water and mustard, 
but as the Pulsatilla relieved my head, 
handed it over to Sister Griggs as a 
luxury. 

[283] 



The Lady. Nurse of Ward E 

June 15, 1864. 

Ill in bed all day, but after taking 
some gruel for dinner felt better. 
Eeceived a box of old linen from Cap- 
tain Dewey's father. No. 6 came 
down to report. I was sorry to hear 
that Lieutenant Gibson died in the 
night and No. 30 this morning. Sent 
to the chaplain to have him send tele- 
gram to the former's wife. My fe- 
ver patient, No. 15, whose old father 
was with me and watched him so 
faithfully, will not live through the 
night. 

A meeting with speeches is now 
going on before the Patent Office; a 
band is discoursing music, rockets are 
going off in all directions, and beauti- 
ful fire-balloons are ascending from 
the Smithsonian grounds — all in hon- 
or of President Lincoln's renomina- 
tion. It is a fine moonlight evening, 
too. 

June 16, 1864. 
Weak, but succeeded in getting 
dressed and waited until ten for An- 
toine to bring my breakfast, which 
[284] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

came at last. The toast was very 
nice, but the butter had dripped into 
the tea and I had to take a little elder- 
berry wine to supply its place. On 
my way to Ward E called to inquire 
after the lieutenant colonel, who has 
been confined to his room for the past 
three days, feeling very much neg- 
lected. Found four vacant beds 
since yesterday, and No. 3 passing 
away rapidly. He is Mr. Alcock, of 
New York, an assistant editor, and 
who was in Judge Phillips's office ; the 
latter has, by letter, sent him a great 
many friends. My fever patient (No. 
15) died at six o'clock this morning, 
and his father could not speak to me, 
though he bustled about making prep- 
arations to leave. 

Mrs. Colonel Farnham came to see 
if she could do anything for No. 3 
just after he had been carried out. 
Her husband is of the Seventieth New 
York. He was formerly in the Mexi- 
can War, and she told me had been 
wounded over thirty times. Wrote 
two letters concerning patients, and 
[285] 



The Lady .Nurse of Ward E 

glad to have them off the list of 
unanswered ones. After tea went 
to the Smithsonian grounds for a 
half hour with Sister Griggs. Mr. 
Charles Tibbits made me another 
visit. 

Miss McClellan is quite ill and 
obliged to keep to her room. Very 
warm weather. As our ward was 
being cleaned I spent part of the day 
with her at the '' Home." Dr. Stuart 
is confined to his room and Lieuten- 
ant Adams, from Livingston County, 
New York, showing some unfavorable 
symptoms. I sent for Dr. Bliss, who 
advises him to have his hand ampu- 
tated. The poor fellow seems much 
depressed, but he still tries to be 
cheerful. He is glad to have me come 
and talk with him, and said he would 
not talk about wounds when I came to 
see him, " but of something pleasant," 
for which unusually considerate re- 
mark Sister Griggs predicts he surely 
will not live. Commenced a letter to 
Miss Piatt. 

Dr. Tumey of Ward G came in to 
[286] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

see our patients, and if he came often 
I should lose mine (patience) alto- 
gether. 

June 18, 1864. 
Lieutenant Adams alarmed us by 
showing decided symptoms of tetanus 
(lockjaw). Dr. Bliss was notified, 
and his arm was soon amputated. I 
suddenly came to the determination 
to witness it, if I could summon suffi- 
cient nerve and have company. Sis- 
ters Griggs and Israel with myself 
were present, and my curiosity was 
satisfied. Miss Israel felt faint, left 
for a time, and returned. I remained 
until they were tying the arteries, 
when, finding my limbs losing 
strength and a sickness and trembling 
coming over me, I thought it prudent 
to leave. I made my way slowly to 
the ward, but was obliged to sit for 
some time with camphor that No. 6 
handed me. The ward master ac- 
companied me to our house, but Sister 
Griggs never wavered to the end. 

After dinner I went to the Presi- 
dent's grounds for an outing — to hear 
[287] 



The Lady -Nurse of Ward E 

the music and to enjoy the green 
grass. Eeceived a note from Mrs. 
Captain Daggett about a soldier from 
New Bedford, Mass., who did not re- 
ceive his letters enclosed in one to Dr. 
Bliss, fearing I might have left. An- 
swered it in the evening. The hos- 
pital steward, our new patient, gave 
us some beautiful music; he arranges 
very pretty variations. Lieutenant 
Adams is no better. He knows me 
and spoke once, so pleasantly, since 
the amputation, saying, " Now you 
can write to my sister, if you please." 
His brother has been telegraphed for. 

June 19, 1864. 

No hope for the recovery of Lieu- 
tenant Adams. Found three letters 
in the post office for the soldier in 
Ward Q, one of the extra tent wards, 
and had the pleasure of taking them 
to him. Sent letter to Mrs. Daggett 
with good news to his mother. In- 
spection was held at ten o'clock. 

Eeceived a good home letter from 
Sister Gulie, who is at Yonkers. 
[288] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Called to see Lieutenant Colonel Mil- 
lett, who is now improving. Was as- 
tonished to see Jobes (my first ward 
master), Gorman, and Perry walk 
into the ward. Jobes came to Wash- 
ington on transports with the re- 
cruits; as his descriptive list had an 
error, he is obliged to give two months 
more of service to the Government. 
Had a short religious service in the 
ward after dinner by a gentleman 
from the Sanitary Commission. 

June 20, 1864. 

Miss Low is quite ill. Found a va- 
cant bed, as I feared, and Lieutenant 
Adams is relieved from his sufferings. 
Jobes spent the night with Patter- 
son, and to-day he and Gorman left 
after dinner to return to Concord, 
N. H. 

Mailed a long letter to Sister Piatt. 
Gave Jobes a nice flannel shirt, and 
sent his wife Longfellow's " Chil- 
dren." Gave Antoine Mrs. Dibble's 
socks and sent his letter of thanks 
(which was very expressive) under 
[289] 



The Lady. Nurse of Ward E 

cover to Mrs. Clapp, of Yonkers. 
Miss McClellan brought a fine treat 
of cherries from her home, which 
tasted like those from the old Quaker 
Hill trees. After tea went with her 
to the Smithsonian grounds for a 
short time, but found it damp. She 
told me of the sad procession yester- 
day, the funeral of the operatives who 
were killed by the explosion at the 
Arsenal on Friday. There were sev- 
enteen hearses and ambulances and 
over a hundred carriages, and the op- 
eratives' former companions (women) 
walked to the Congressional burying 
ground. 

June 21, 1864. 

Had a headache to - day. Very 

warm. After making out diet went 

to our " Home." Miss McClellan 

brought me some toast and tea, but 

Lieutenant C called and I was 

obliged to make a hurried toilet with- 
out taking it, though soon returned 
after going to the chaplain, who re- 
lieved my mind about Lieutenant 
Adams's remains, he having received 
[290] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

a telegram from his brother. Took 
leave of Lieutenant Colonel Millett, 
who left for home this evening, then 
went to bed again and made misuc- 
cessful efforts to sleep, as the flies, 
the heat, and a headache kept me 
awake. Received a letter from Ser- 
geant Jennings's sister, who wishes to 
come here as a nurse. 

June 22, 1864. 
Went to ward about ten o'clock and 
am still weak. Lieutenant Adams's 
brother came, with whom I had a long 
conversation; was quite overcome 
when I spoke of his wishing me to 
write to his sister. Miss Griggs re- 
ceived a letter from Sister Southwick, 
who was on a boat with the medical 
purveyor with the " Hospital Stores," 
all moving on they knew not where, 
until a place was decided upon for the 
new supplies. This was by the pon- 
toon bridge over which our army has 
just crossed, near City Point. Went 
with No. 6 to look once more on Lieu- 
tenant Adams, and put a little bou- 
quet of roses in his hands; regretted 
[291] 



The Lady iN'urse of Ward E 

to find they had taken him away ten 
minutes before. 

Miss Marsh made her departure on 
the evening train. Spent part of the 
evening with Miss McClellan, who in- 
troduced me to Dr. LeGrin, who visits 
her ward every evening. I find he is 
the physician that lived at Mrs. Glea- 
son's house in New York, and I believe 
Dr. Fesnonder must be the party we 
met there ; he is Dr. Socarraz's friend. 

June 23, 1864. 

Captain Brooks's stepmother came. 
Sister Griggs and I went home with 
Miss McClellan to dine. I enjoyed 
the dinner immensely, everything be- 
ing so homelike and pleasant. Her 
brother Fred, a lawyer, was our escort 
home. 

To-day is one of the warmest days 
of the season. 

June 24, 1864. 

It is exceedingly warm and dusty, 

having had no rain for weeks. No. 2 

is failing. Was grieved to hear of the 

death of Graflfleman's son at the Stan- 

[292] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

ton Hospital. Poor man, he could 
scarcely tell me about it ; he came soon 
after with paper and envelope and 
asked me to write a few words to his 
wife, which I did and sent it by the 
morning's mail. Finished and mailed 
my letter to Lieutenant Adams's sis- 
ter and answered Miss Francis's note. 
Miss Low left for a retired boarding 
house on the opposite side of the river 
to rest. Sister Griggs treated Dr. 
Banister and myself to a water ice, 
which was refreshing to our dust-filled 
throats. 

June 25, 1864. 

Went with Sister Griggs to have 

her "vignette" taken. Omitted to 

mention yesterday the reception of a 

letter from Lieutenant Colonel Fox. 

Lieutenant C came in and spent 

an hour. Patterson received a letter 
the first of the week from Kysor, so 
long our " dresser " ; he lies wounded 
in a hospital at Chattanooga. The 
weather is hot, and I am unable 
to do anything after dinner but 
breathe. 

[293] 



The Lady JNfurse of Ward E 

Cousin Tibbits spent the evening 
with me. He brought a bottle of bay 
rum, claret, and lemons, and gave us a 
little music. I remained a while after 
" Taps " as No. 2 was breathing his 
last. 

June 26, 1864. 

Sunday. It is as hot as ever, but a 
refreshing shower in the afternoon 
cooled things a little. Answered Miss 
Jennings's letter and also Will Dart's. 
Had two of my patients carried out in 
the air on their beds. 

June 27, 1864. 
There was another thundershower, 
for which we were grateful, and a 
change in the weather. The papers 
said last week was the hottest June 
they have had in New York for years. 
Captain Lippe is a very pleasant gen- 
tleman. No. 11 very weak, but hope 
the change in the weather will benefit 
him. 

June 28, 1864. 
Devoted myself to the ward all day, 
as No. 11 is failing rapidly. Wrote 
[294] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

to his wife and to the colonel of his 
regiment, who is in town. Received a 
few lines from Sister Southwick, who 
reports having been quite ill, and is 
now at City Point. Weather again 
quite comfortable. 

June 29, 1864. 
No. ll's sister has arrived. Took 
an order for the Sanitary Commission 
for india-rubber rings, etc., to Dr. 
Bliss for his signature, which he 
copied and filed away, to be sent some 
time by his orderly instead of by No. 
6, as I hoped (we have secured the 
privilege of ordering things from the 
Sanitary Commission, which we par- 
ticularly appreciate, since we have 
heard from the president of the com- 
mission that our surgeon in charge 
has requested them to honor our sig- 
nature, which they are perfectly wil- 
ling to do). Went with Miss Merrill 
in ambulance to accompany Sister 
Hill to railroad depot, as she made her 
departure this evening. Went to the 
Capitol grounds to hear the music, but 
our seats were too distant from the 
[295] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

music stand for us to enjoy it. Craig, 
attendant No. 3, made me a beautiful 
cross. 

June 30, 1864. 

There was a beef-tea riot, and I 
openly declared my rebellion to the 
surgeon in charge. Captain Dewey 
has left us. I slept in a tent. Had 
tea with Miss McClellan and Miss 
Merrill. 

July 1, 1864. 
Very warm again. Wrote a note to 
Dr. Bliss before sending my " order " 
to special diet kitchen, and he said 
it would be furnished, but when No. 6 
went for it he was again refused. I 
wrote a second note to Dr. Bliss, say- 
ing I proposed giving up my ward at 
once. As he has referred my com- 
munication to my surgeon, the latter 
can attend to it entirely after this. 
Went with Miss Griggs and Dr. Ban- 
ister to call on the Yatemans. 

July 2, 1864. 
Melting weather. A new patient 
was brought in during the night — • 
[296] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Captain Schoffer of the Thirty-first 
Maine. He is wounded through the 
shoulder and his spine and lower 
limbs are paralyzed. As he cannot 
live long, I wrote immediately to his 
sister. Went with Sister Griggs to 
hear the music ; the shower had cooled 
the air a little, so it was quite enjoy- 
able. 

July 3, 1864. 

Captain S died during the 

night, and No. ll's sister remained 
with him all night. Had a headache, 
and went into the house until dinner. 
Informal inspection was held very 
late, just as I reached Ward E. Bead 
an hour to Captain Lippe after din- 
ner, a beautiful allegory, * The Dis- 
tant Hills." Went to Ward A in 
the evening to hear some music. Sis- 
ter G introduced me to Lieutenant 
Eandall, of New York, whose wound 
across the neck has paralyzed his 
arms. He is very interesting, and 
gave me a full account of his experi- 
ences after being wounded. He was 
turned over twice by his friends and 
[297] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

heard them say, " He is dead, poor 
fellow ! " while unable at the time to 
speak. He has a womid also in the 
leg. 

July 4, 1864. 

A beautiful day, with a pleasant 
breeze. Gave each of my attendants 
a dollar for a holiday treat, which 
seemed to afford them much pleasure. 
Wrote out my list of patients since 
the last engagements. I remained in 
the ward to let No. 6, my orderly, and 
as many of the attendants as possible 
go out. The hospital gave them an ex- 
tra dinner, and I made chocolate and 
treated them in the afternoon, and 
stewed my last jar of dried cherries 
for their tea. Didn't go to the house 
until five o'clock. After tea accompa- 
nied Miss McClellan home, where we 
had ice cream. Misses Merrill and 
Griggs, with Drs. Bobbins and Eitch- 
ings, soon followed us. It was a pleas- 
ant evening. 

July 5, 1864. 

The ward was comfortable. No. 11 
is holding his own, which is quite won- 
[298] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

derful. Went out shopping with Sis- 
ter Griggs for farewell presents. 
After tea went with her and a gentle- 
man who visits her ward to see the 
stones brought for the wonderful 
Washington Monument, which stands 
in an unfinished state next to a cattle 
yard but we failed to get to it. 

July 6, 1864. 
Went on the avenue and bought a 
present for the ward master, the 
dresser, etc. Eeeeived a letter from 
home with the astounding news that 
Carrie and Adolph have sailed for 
Europe, which makes me a little home- 
sick. Went with Sister Griggs again 
to see the stones collected for the 
Washington Monument. They are in 
a small building, in the enclosure, 
which is a dreary spot, as there is no 
grass. Only the monument in its un- 
finished state can be seen. Many of 
the blocks are exceedingly interesting. 
I returned perfectly exhausted, but 
after a little tea and a visit to my 
ward went to Ward A to hear Misses 
[•299] 



The Lady. Nurse of Ward E 

Thomas and Yateman^s music. Miss 
Capen and Mrs. De Quandre called. 

July 7, 1864. 
Exceedingly hot to-day. Sister 
Griggs left, and Dr. Banister is also 
in the same train. Wrote the follow- 
ing " epitaph " for Sister Griggs d la 
Chaplain Jackson, and gave it to her 
before her departure: 

EPITAPH 

I know not why I am left behind, 

Unless it is to pen 
The epitaph of Sister Griggs, 

And prove myself her friend. 

She was a girl so wondrous brave, 

She never feared a "riot"; 
She spake her mind (she was not blind) 

About the "Special Diet." 

From Boston town, of course no clown 

But very wise and clever; 
Was loud in praise of Boston ways. 

But could not live there — never. 

Though kind to all, both great and small, 

She never did forget 
Her wit to use, and well abuse 

" The New York toilette. " 
[300] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

But she has gone, our grief forbids 

To speak but in her praise ; 
Her heart was right, her talents bright : 

"God bless her all her days." 

Aemory Square Hospital, 
July 7, 1864. 

Sister Griggs is to stop at Philadel- 
phia, and expects to meet me in New 
York. The Misses Capen and Mrs. De 
Quandre left in the same train. 

A slight shower after tea prevented 
Sister " Mac '* and myself from going 
to her home. Played piano for the 
ward. 

July 8, 1864. 

Arranged my private closet under 
table in the ward preparatory to leav- 
ing. Miss Israel is quite ill. Pay day 
for the men. Received a letter from 
Sister Southwick, who is still at City 
Point, which is a miserable place, 
their camp being in a sand bank. 
They are almost suffocated with the 
heat and clouds of dust and sand 
which the wind blows in upon them. 
Made a call in Ward A in the evening, 
and Lieutenant Hooker, who came 
[301] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

down to see me in the morning and an- 
ticipated the music in the evening, was 
very polite, as well as Lieutenant 
Eandall, who is still unable to sit up. 
They are unusually pleasant men. 

July 9, 1864. 
Spent morning in ward framing 
and changing some of the pictures, 
etc. Eeceived exciting news of an- 
other raid into Maryland. An order 
came to have every man able to carry 
a musket ready to leave to-morrow. 

Lieutenant C came to the house 

for the last visit. Miss Israel still 
continues ill. Sang in Miss Merrill's 
ward my new song, " When Johnny 
Comes Marching Home," and tried 
duets with her ; then went to my ward 
and repeated it. The general ward 
master came in and brought a tenor, 
and we had quite a musicale. Sisters 
" Mac " and Merrill and I had a long 
talk by the light of the stars (an un- 
usual luxury). 



[302] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

. July 10, 1864. 

Sunday. Did not leave my bed un- 
til one o'clock. Antoine brought me 
breakfast, which Miss Lowell kindly 
brought in to me, expressing her re- 
grets, etc. 

Went to see Dr. Stuart, who has 
been and is still very ill. Found our 
best attendant (Philip, No. 4) was to 
leave us, and also an attendant from 
the dining room. Wrote note to ward 
master with his farewell present. 
Sang hymns with the old hospital 
choir (excepting Sister Piatt and our 

Lieutenant C ). Miss Israel is 

very ill and is delirious. 

July 11, 1864. 

Began my packing. Another order 
for men from the hospital. Found 
only the ward master, with ward at- 
tendants — two for the dining room 
and bathroom. Johnny Hegeman, 
my orderly, volunteered, as the order- 
lies were to be exempt for the present. 

The rebels are skirmishing before 
Fort Stevens, formerly Fort Massa- 
chusetts, only five miles from this city. 
[303] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Baltimore is in great excitement. 
General Lew Wallace was in com- 
mand, and the fighting going on all 
day Saturday, but our men were 
obliged to fall back, as the enemy was 
superior in numbers. Miss Israel is 
better. Went to see Dr. Stuart after 
dinner; foimd Mrs. Eamsdell there, 
who informed me that she and Mr. 
Eamsdell thought of going North this 
evening also. 

Received present of a beautiful 
workbox from my ward master, with 
a very appreciative note, which quite 
interrupted my packing. As Miss 
Thomas did not come and my audi- 
ence did. Miss Merrill and I were 
obliged to entertain them with an at- 
tempt at a few favorite songs. After 
" Taps " sat on the chapel steps with 
Sisters Merrill and McClellan, in the 
moonlight. Our nerves were too over- 
wrought for us to separate, and we 
were wondering what news the morn- 
ing would bring. As we were return- 
ing we were called out again to hear 
the band from the Sixth Corps, which 
[304] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

passed here to-day on a forced march 
and returned to treat us, playing most 
beautiful music for a half hour. Part 
of the Nineteenth Corps, from New 
Orleans, also passed; in fact, all day 
troops have been hurriedly massing to 
protect Washington. 

July 12, 1864. 

The bridge over Gunpowder River, 
sixteen miles from Baltimore toward 
Philadelphia was burned. The 7.30 
A.M. train yesterday was attacked, the 
passengers ordered out, and the train 
then run on to the bridge and burned. 
This afternoon the " extras " say a 
few miles of double track between this 
city and Baltimore were torn up, so I 
am a fixture for the present. How 

Sister Helen G will exult that she 

is the other side of the " Eubicon." 

Finished packing for the present. 
Received a letter from Sister South- 
wick, who has returned from the 
"front" ill at Alexandria with Mrs. 
Sawyer, and wishes me to come and 
bring her to Washington. No. 11 is 
again failing. After tea went to the 
[305] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Sanitary Commission rooms, when I 
found that Mr. Knapp and the chief 
clerk were in New York. After 
" Taps " went with Sisters Helen and 
Mac to Smithsonian, where Misses 
Lowell and Ware had preceded us, to 
see the shells from the Smithsonian 
Tower ; but as they came down and re- 
ported only " signal lights " to be 
seen, we felt too weary to attempt to 
climb so many flights. Professor 
Henry^s daughters came to the door 
and were cordial. 

July 13, 1864. 
The rebels have retreated, but many 
precious lives have been sacrificed. 
Major Jones of the Sixth Maine, just 
returned to his regiment from a fur- 
lough, was killed; his term of service 
would have expired in two days. Sent 
Sister Southwick's former No. 6 to 
get a pass and go to Alexandria to see 
her and report how she is. He suc- 
ceeded in getting one through Miss 
Eead, whom he met at General An- 
ger's office. She advised him not to 
stop for my letter, which I had writ- 
[306] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

ten for him to take, and came herself 
to make an apology, which I was 
obliged to accept. He found her very 
weak and threatened with fever. 
Troops are constantly passing. A 
train is to leave for Baltimore this 
evening. 

Dr. Stuart is worse, and has erysip- 
elas in the face and head. Spent even- 
ing with Miss McClellan, where I 
found her surgeon. Dr. Bobbins, and 
Mr. David Burr, his father's partner, 
a very agreeable gentleman. 

July 14, 1864. 

After breakfast I was obliged to 
regulate ward matters (as the ward 
master had been watching with Dr. 
Stuart all night, for the fifth time, and 
had retired exhausted), which I did 
expeditiously. Went to Dr. Bliss and 
reported the state of things, and to 
see if he did not consider it necessary 
to detail an especial attendant for Dr. 

S , then to consult with Sister 

Mary McClellan about going to Alex- 
andria. She promised to make out my 
[307] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

"diet requisition." Went to Massa- 
chusetts rooms for brandy to take 
with me, then for a pass to the provost 
marshal's office, where I met Colonel 
Wiswall again, through whom I ob- 
tained it. Returned too late for twelve 
o'clock boat. Went to the ward to see 
No. ll's sister, as her brother died 
during the night, worn out with his 
protracted sufferings ; then hurried to 
dinner and took the one o'clock boat. 
Was so weary that I took off my bon- 
net and went to sleep in one corner of 
the ladies' salon. 

Found Sister S better than I 

expected, but very weak and glad 
enough to see me. Forgot to say that 
the lieutenant of the guard would not 
permit me to take my bottles on the 
boat (the city is so strictly guarded), 
as they were not mentioned in my 
pass; but he kindly kept them imtil 
my return in the five o'clock boat. 
Reached home at 6 a.m. Took my tea, 
then went to see Mr. and Mrs. Rams- 
dell about going North. Called on 
Miss Yateman, who returned with me 
[308] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

and went to the ward, where she sang 
and played for an hour — such a boon 
to the weary patients in bed. A 
colonel from Ward A, with his wife, 
Lieutenant Hooker, and some other 
ladies came in, and after the colonel's 
wife left the colonel sang ; Miss Good- 
rich also sang some of her plaintive 
airs. Arranged the night medicines, 
as Patterson was out, and came home 
glad enough to retire. 

July 15, 1864. 
Went to see Miss Eead (who is 
fussy enough to put even Job out of 
patience) at the Washington House, 
corner of Third Street and the Ave- 
nue. After keeping me waiting nearly 
an hour, was glad to see her, with bon- 
net on ready for Alexandria. I in- 
formed her she would be obliged to 
have the bottle of brandy in her bag 
mentioned in her pass, and insisted 
upon her getting an alcohol lamp ar- 
rangement also, which Sister S 

needs so much. Went to Brady's gal- 
lery to get President Lincoln's pic- 
ture, and found an album to suit me. 
[309] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

Lieutenant C came; said he 

commanded a skirmish line last Tues- 
day evening, when the rebels thought 
to gobble up some cattle, about six 
miles from Chain Bridge, across the 
river. They drove them off, and a 
few of our men were wounded. When 
he left, as I was hurrying to dinner, a 
lady came (she was some connection 
of Miss Southwick's) to see if she 
could not be brought to her house. 
Found Mrs. Colonel Lowell at the ta- 
ble, who, as I unlocked the gate for 
her one evening, recognized me very 
sweetly. 

July 16, 1864. 

Our ward at present is very quiet; 
only a few of the patients (the most 
severe cases) still in bed. Captain 
Constantine Lippe, of the 188 Pa. 
Vols., who would not consent to have 
his leg amputated, after weeks of suf- 
fering lying on his back, losing flesh 
and strength, as he knew he must until 
the crisis was passed, is now gaining. 
His fine physique and good health 
have borne the strain. We have four 
[310] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

young men carry him out on his bed 
into the open air, where he is to re- 
main two hours, and I have now time 
to read to him. A bookseller supplies 
the books, and he reads constantly. It 
was for him I was obliged, personal- 
ly, to make a raid on the special diet 
kitchen for beef -tea, which they would 
not give my No. 6 without an order. 

The railway trains are running 
again, but are so full ; it is impossible 
for me to get through such a crowd. 
Sister McClellan's father (Assistant 
Postmaster General) is to see me in 
the car (with the railroad company's 
key, next week, before the hour for 
leaving). That will be too late to see 
Sister Griggs before she leaves for 
Brooklyn, which I regret so much. 

July 20, 1864. 
The day has at last arrived to bid 
adieu to my ward and its absorbing 
duties, now realizing, reluctantly, how 
my life has been rounded within it for 
eight months. So with an inexpress- 
ible regret to leave even a few whose 
[311] 



The Lady Nurse of Ward E 

watchful eyes and patient smiles 
would bid me stay, though with an 
unspeakable longing for home and 
loved ones there, have given them my 
hand in good fellowship, and over a 
glass of native wine made my good 
wishes to Captain Lippe, my brave 
Philadelphian, and Captain Brooks 
of the Twelfth New Jersey Volun- 
teers. WILL I EVER RETURN? 



[312] 



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